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In Italy with the 332nd 
Infantry 



By 
Joseph L. Lettau 

{Battalion Sergeant Major, 332nd Infantry) 



t4 



Copyright 1921 
By Joseph L. Lettau 



©CI.A614941 



CONTENTS 



Page 

INTRODUCTION .- 5— 6 

Chapter 

I France 7—13 

II France to Italy; Villafranca, Custozza, 

Sommacompagna, Verona 16 — 20 

III In Tents near Valleggio; Villa Angelica— 21 — 27 

IV Treviso; The Air Raid; Before the Drive. _ 28—34 

V The Drive; At the Tagliamento ; Ipplis __ 35 — 45 

VI Cormons, Austria; Cormons to Treviso 46 — 50 

VII Treviso after the Drive; In Rome with 

Wilson 51—57 

VIII Third Battalion at Fiume 58—61 

IX Second Battalion in Dalmatia and Monte- 
negro 62 — 66 

X Treviso to Genoa; The Investigation 67 — 70 

XI Genoa— The Regiment Re-united 71—72 

XII Genoa to Ohio; Gibraltar; Camp Merritt; • 
Parade in New York; Cleveland; Camp 
Sherman; Discharged 73 — 76 



J. L. LETTAU, Publisher 

461 Edwards S<. 
Youngstown, Ohio 



Evangelical Press, Cleveland 



INTRODUCTION 



THE 332ND INFANTRY REGIMENT, N. A., was organized 
in the early days of September, 1917, at Camp Sherman, 
Ohio, around a nucleus of four commissioned officers and 
about thirty enlisted men of the regular army. The first selec- 
tives arrived at Camp September 5th, 1917, and from that day 
until the regiment's departure for Europe the personnel was con- 
stantly changing, newly arrived men being trained for a few 
months and then being sent to other camps and overseas. 

All the necessary ''shots in the back,'^ drills, hikes, rifle 
practice, bayonet work, signalling, tent pitching and kitchen 
police were gone through and, at last, on May 24th, 1918 with 
ranks filled and hopes high, we boarded the train for Camp 
Merritt, N. J. 

After a weary twelve days here of endless clothing checks, 
physical examinations and dripping letters to loved ones, we 
proceeded to Hoboken, crossed the river to the majestic * ' Aqui- 
tania,^' second largest ship afloat, and went to our — er — state- 
rooms. We were too much filled with curiosity to explore this 
huge vessel to think much of the coming dangers. We lay next 
to the pier until the morning of June 8th, when to our disgust 
we were ordered below until the ship should have cleared the 
harbor. So, we left America without even the slight consola- 
tion of wafting a kiss to Miss Liberty, whose features we were 
not to see for ten, long, weary months. 

Besides the 332nd Infantry, there were aboard Major Gen- 
eral Glenn with his staff and about 2000 men of medical units. 
To our great surprise, and a twinge of misgiving, we had no 
escort after the first day out and this, with the U-boats spread- 
ing terror along our coast. At this time, even Coney Island 
had been darkened at night. However, the ' ' Aquitania ' ^ had 
speed as well as grace and it would have required a fast U-boat 
to drive a torpedo into her side as she sped on her zig-zag 
course. 

The weather was perfect and we proceeded without adven- 
ture until the fourth day out when someone sighted what he 
thought was the periscope of a submarine. (I think he must 
have been a Medic ! ) At any rate, his loudly voiced cry started 
a small panic which might have reached disastrous dimensions 

5 



had not word suddenly come that the object sighted was a 
floating buoy used by the transports for a target in practice 
nrmg. 

Some of the most intensely interesting minutes aboard were 
spent watching the little three inch guns which every few 
minutes turned on their pivots as they followed each suspicious 
looking object in the water. There were not enough gunners 
so several doughboys were detailed to render assistance. Be- 
sides these guardians of the public welfare, the regular guard 
was stationed at various points on the ship, the companies tak- 
ing their turn at guard duty. 

By way of showing the submarines what they thouo-ht of 
them, our excellent band gave several greatly enjoyed con- 
certs on the open deck. 

On the morning of June 15th, Ireland was sighted and, 
before noon, we had passed up the river Mersey and stood on 
land once more m the city of Liverpool, England. 

Our stay here was confined to a walk from the pier to a 
railroad station about two miles away. The English cordially 
welcomed us and sent us off with a boy's band conducted by 
a genial, elderly man. 

The ride from Liverpool, in the peculiar little English 
coaches, took us across the rich farm lands of Southern Eng- 
land. We passed through so many tunnels that, when I think 
of England, I think of tunnels broken here and there by little 
towns containing little brick houses bordered by pretty little 
gardens most neatly kept. 

Arriving at Southampton, we hiked miles to a ''Rest Camp '' 
I would not dare mention these two words in the vicinity of a 
doughboy for, it is true, we do not understand the English 
language as our English friends do. Imagine vourself and 
twelve others occupying a tent made for eight and this tent 
luxuriously furnished with a— wooden floor and a tent pole 
Then imagine resting on a bed consisting of the contents of 
your pack, namely, two blankets, one mess kit, one shelter half, 
one rope, one tent pole, flve pins, one suit of BVD'S, two pairs 
of socks and a pair of shoe laces. Keep your picture moving 
and imagine the task of collecting your property in the morning 
and makmg a neat roll. And this is what they call a ''Rest 
Camp V^ 

We began to take war seriously. "If this is a rest camp/' 
we thought, "why—'' but flgure it out for yourself. Indeed 
we were glad to leave Southampton on the cattle boats which 
awaited us. 



IN ITALY WITH THE 332nd INFANTRY 



CHAPTER I 
France 

FRANCE AT LAST ! Early on the morning of June 17th, 
1918, our little cattle boat, having safely traversed the sub- 
marine-infested channel, steamed into the ancient harbor 
of Havre. In the gray morning not much of the town could be 
seen and, anyway, we were too busy to admire the scenery. 

Companies were formed and trucks loaded and we started\ 
for the camp, our eyes wide with curiosity, for we were in. 
France, that land of which we had heard so much for the; 
last two years. I retain an impression of a dusty, aged,, 
wasted city of old brick and stone buildings. The shopkeepers, 
signs were interesting and — mysterious. As we moved away 
from the business district we passed many piles of ammunition 
and cannon guarded by Algerian soldiers. It was edifying- 
to see these colored soldiers snap to attention. 

Everywhere, however, our passage was marked for the ab- 
sence of anything like a greeting from the natives. We won- 
dered. In America, on the train, racing to the coast, whistles 
shrieked, bells rang and people cheered. In England, bands 
played and people loudly applauded. Yet, here in France, to 
whose immediate aid we were rushing, no word of welcome 
came to us. It was grim. Did France think that America was 
too slow? Was France too sorrowful at her losses? Did she 
think that these dressed up shopmen, farmers and clerks were 
poor substitutes for her own brave who had died in the vain 
attempt to stem the German tide? Whatever her thoughts, we 
saw nothing to confirm the prevalent idea that the French are 
an excitable people. 

Continuing through the winding streets, up and down hills, 
we came to a sandy, wire-enclosed field containing a few wooden 
buildings and many tents. It was a dreary looking place and 
the painted signs giving directions to be followed in case of an 
air raid failed to put any humor in the situation. 

Outside the barbed wire fence, which held us prisoners, a 
sentinel paced up and down. On the street, there were at all 
times several boys waiting and begging for food or cigarettes. 
At meal time the number increased and with them came women 



8 IN ITALY WITH THE 

and girls begging for food. A walk around showed us that the 
camp was scarcely more than a makeshift and we hoped we 
would not remain long. 

While here, some of us had near-baths which we shall never 
forget. For an hour we stood in line waiting our turn to enter 
the bath house and when at last we entered and had gotten 
^* soaped up/* the water limit for the day was reached and the 
water was turned off. 

About noon of the 18th, we moved from this camp. Luckily, 
for us, we were first at the train and upon discovering that 
eight men and all their equipment, irrespective of rank, ex- 
cepting commissioned officers, were to be jammed into one 
compartment made for eight to sit in, and that we were to 
spend the night there, we began to consider the matter seriously. 
Before long, one of the boys unfolded a plan and, a moment 
later, three busier Sergeants Major than we three could not 
have been found. We turned *' baggage smashers" and in a 
few minutes, a whole second class compartment was empty, and 
later, some of the officers discovered that there were as many 
as three of them to a compartment. 

Our ride across France took us close to Paris but as we 
passed at night we did not see it. France is beautiful. There 
was the same orderliness that we noted in England except that 
there was more evidence of recent neglect. The hedges along 
the tracks, which in other days had been so well kept, now 
showed lack of attention. Cattle were few and far between 
and no j^oung men were seen, except those in uniform. 

On the afternoon of the 19th we arrived at a town named 
Foulain. However, we remained in the cars until darkness. 
We saw no reason for wasting these daylight hours but later 
learned that troop movements were allowed only under cover 
of darkness. 

*' Where are weV **Do you think we're near the front f 
^'Is'nt this a h — 1 of a place to stopf These were the un- 
answerable questions we asked each other. 

At last we were ordered from the train. The companies, 
except one, were formed and marched away into the dark, 
silent, rainy night. As usual, we attended to the loading of 
our boxes and when this was accomplished, we climbed aboard 
the truck. Just about this time, however, the officer who had 
been left behind to supervise the loading of supplies, saw us 
on top of the truck. With angry voice he wanted to know what 
we were doing there and before anyone mustered up cour- 
age to present an alibi, he ordered us off, leaving only a half 
dozen aboard to unload the baggage. Sorrowfully we climbed 



332nd INFANTRY 9 



down, but we left our packs on the truck and we felt that 
we had ''slipped one over" at any rate. 

At 11:00 o'clock, we fell in behind ''C" Company and 
began the memorable march to Mandres. The rain had ceased 
and the night was now truly beautiful. The stars above shone 
brightly and as we marched up the valley alongside a silvery 
canal, flanked on both sides by cool, whispering trees, we found 
it difficult to believe that a desperate battle raged a few 
miles away. 

We walked at a good pace for fifty minutes and then rested 
ten minutes, according to the army marching rules. Of course, 
we smoked a cigarette, the doughboy's best friend, and enjoyed 
for the time, the coolness and quiet. It was difficult to get 
up and continue the march, and long before the next rest period 
came, our feet were dragging. How those lads with heavy 
packs stood it, is difficult to understand. Remember that for 
about forty hours we had been riding in a space that scarcely 
permitted stretching. When the order came for the second 
rest period, the stars as interesting phenomena had lost their 
charm. Even a cigarette was unattractive. We wanted to lie 
down and sleep, sleep, sleep. When the order to fall in came 
again, we stumbled to our feet and actually ''fell in." The 
next hour was torture. Never did we want rest so much. Now 
and then we sighted a town ahead and our spirits rose, but 
always, it seemed, our town was further on. "Why are there 
so many hills in France?" "Will we never get to that — 
town?" "Is the Captain on the right road?" These thoughts 
filled our minds and I believe some of the boys walked in their 
sleep. This condition was not exceptional, it was the general 
feeling. 

Everything ends, and at last we had climbed our last hill 
and had arrived in the muddy street of a quaint little, stone- 
housed town. Lights began to twinkle here and there and 
people came out to see their first American soldiers. It was 
2 A. M. I understood that we were going into billets, but it 
seemed impossible to find room for one thousand men in these 
few houses. At length, several detachments moved away. 
Some of these men climbed ladders and disappeared into attics 
and hay lofts; others passed from view into cellars and barns. 
"So these are billets?" 

After our Detachment had stood in the road many minutes, 
we began to realize that unless we ourselves found a place to 
sleep, we would very likely be there in the road until daybreak. 
Therefore, we marched up the street and found a newly con- 



10 IN ITALY WITH THE 

structed wooden building, entered it, picked up the softest 
looking piece of wood and '^went to bed." 

We who stopped in Mandres were fortunate as the Second 
and Third Battalions were stationed four or five miles beyond 
Mandres. 

In the morning, after a breakfast of canned willy, canned 
tomatoes and crackers, we located Regimental Headquarters. 

Later, we learned that there were rooms for some of us. 
We had pictured a hay loft at best but when we found that 
we had drawn rooms containing real beds, we were pleased 
beyond description. Two of us were billeted in the home of 
an old lady who smiled and talked incessantly, but since our 
French was in its infancy and had not reached the talking stage, 
we could only grin at her and say ''Wee, wee" whenever it 
appeared time. However, we got along famously. 

When the lady finally bowed herself out, we examined the 
room. The bed drew our attention immediately. It was not 
six feet long (I am, and I know the bed was not) and it stood 
about four feet from the floor. The odd thing about it was a 
sort of feather-bed on top of the covers. We could never learn 
to use it as a cover but always lovingly put it upon the floor 
whenever we did not fear the lady 's coming. One of the covers 
was made entirely of heavy, exquisite lace, pretty to look at, 
but not half as warm as our ''three thin blankets." 

There were two pictures on the wall, both of young sol- 
diers, and we knew why the old lady was so kind to us. A 
dresser and a stand with bowl and pitcher completed the room. 
Simple it was, but a mansion compared to what we expected. 

The companies were put to work immediately. Those men 
who had ofl^ended were given the task of rendering a town 
sanitary that had been unsanitary since the first man and his 
cow had come to live there. The others embarked upon a six 
weeks training schedule, the author of which, evidently, had 
never heard of relaxation. From early morning, when the 
bugle blew "Assembly," khaki clad youths came down lad- 
ders, out of cellars, out of barns and out of houses, and 
throughout the day, pausing only at noon, American cries and 
activities resounded through the ordinarily quiet village until 
nightfall. Our service at the front, it appeared, would begin 
at the expiration of these six weeks. 

As mentioned above, not all of our regiment were stationed 
at this town, Mandres, for it was too small. Headquarters, A, 
B, C, and D Companies were here. The Second and Third Bat- 
talions and Supply and Machine Gun Companies were at little 
towns close by called Essey-les-Eaux, Donne Marie and 



332nd INFANTRY 11 



Lanques. However, practically the same events took place at 
each little town. At stated times, the different companies 
leaving their stations, met on the line of march and when a 
prearranged point was reached, skirmishes and trench maneu- 
vers were executed. The noon meal was served in the field 
from the rolling kitchens. Drinking water was frowned on 
while marching and at the conclusion of a march there were 
generally many thick tongues, parched throats and black lips. 

During June a party of commissioned and non-commissioned 
officers were sent to the Infantry school at Chatillon-sur-Seine, 
there to further their education in matters military. 

Generally, in the evening, the boys wrote letters and read 
the Paris edition of the ''Chicago Tribune" and the ''New 
York Herald. ' ' Also, the thirst was quenched. The water was 
under the ban of the Medical Officer unless it was purified by 
the addition of hypo-chloride of lime. This water was placed 
in a lister bag hung upon a tripod and was liked less than the 
various ' ' vins ' ' and brandies offered in the vin shops, especially 
since most of these little shops were presided over by made- 
moiselles. During the day no drinks could be sold to Amer- 
icans, but after the companies were dismissed, until taps, the 
shopkeepers reaped a harvest of francs. 

The Y. M. C. A., Red Cross, K. of C. and Salvation Army, 
apparently, did not know of our existence, for we saw nothing 
of them. The nearest Y. M. C. A. was at Nogent, about two 
and one half miles distance. 

Our excellent band made the evenings happy for French 
and Americans with splendid concerts on the "Square.'' 

Many visits were made to the French homes. Ostensibly 
they were for the purpose of learning the French language 
and customs. However, the home with a feminine teacher was 
generally the most popular school. 

Near our abode was the home of a very dear old French 
couple where we learned that, in this locality, the chief in- 
dustry was the manufacture of knives and scissors. All work 
was done by hand in the homes. Our host plied his trade in the 
room which was also kitchen, dining-room and bedroom. The 
little cook stove, not more than two feet high, looked like a 
toy while the fuel used was twigs. 

The average villager was kind to us but the shopkeepers 
were very grasping. They sold their articles for any sum they 
thought they could get from the Americans. This profiteer- 
ing, especially in foodstuffs, was the cause of an order to the 
Americans forbidding them to buy certain foodstuffs, for the 



12 IN ITALY WITH THE 



profiteers raised prices so high that the natives could not buy 
these articles. 

However, the order was not always obeyed for the tempta- 
tion to have a ''home cooked meal" was very great. Now and 
then enough francs could be gathered together to have a banquet 
of chicken, French-fried potatoes, eggs, lettuce, home made 
bread, butter and vin. The reader has heard of the thrifty 
French housewife but I hope he will not condemn the boys for 
passing up the chicken head and feet which were served on 
the plate. 

Except on Sundays, most of the people wore wooden shoes 
and they could be heard clattering along on the road a block 
away. 

On June 29th we were told that General Pershing was com- 
ing to review us. That meant a night of polishing guns, clean- 
ing quarters, grounds and clothes. When he came, the next 
day. Premier Clemenceau accompanied him. General Pershing 
smiled and spoke to the boys as he passed along the line. He 
looked like a man capable of doing big things. 

The next day a rumor went forth that we were scheduled to 
go to Italy as a propaganda regiment to encourage the Italians. 
As this rumor gained credence, the study of French lost ground 
and many copies of ''French for Soldiers'' went to the bot- 
tom of the barracks bags. 

On the Fourth of July we were awakened before reveille by 
our band which, in two separate sections, marched around the 
town endeavoring to see which section could make more noise. 
During the day athletic games were staged and prizes were 
given to the winners. 

The following week, on July 9th, Elsie Janis came to our 
neighborhood and provided an evening's entertainment we 
shall never forget. In a natural amphitheatre, a rude wooden 
stage with improvised lights, was built. The hillside was dot- 
ted with the "flowers" of the American army, the 331st in 
overseas caps, the 332nd in campaign hats. Both regimental 
bands were near the stage and they kept everyone in good 
spirits. A truck drove up and a piano was unloaded and 
placed upon the stage. Shortly after. Miss Janis and her 
mother arrived in a limousine, and from the moment the door 
of the car opened until she left the stage, everyone had a 
wonderful time. Miss Janis sang several songs, new to us, 
and her parodies and accompanying antics were greatly 
enjoyed. 



332nd INFANTRY 13 



On July 14th, France's Independence Day, another holiday 
was declared. We were free to go anywhere possible in the 
twenty-four hours. In order to bring the holiday spirit to 
the whole regiment, the band was sent around to the various 
towns. In each town a short concert was played and at the 
Second Battalion headquarters it co-operated in a pleasant 
program of speeches and songs attended by the French people 
as well as the soldiers. 

A few days later, the order to move to Italy was officially 
announced and a transfer of physically imperfect men took 
place. Some of our men were sent to the 331st while they 
were to transfer better men to the 332nd. The transfer was 
effected, but when our doctors examined the new men, they 
found many of them in poorer condition than those that we 
had sent to the 331st. So it was necessary to use some 
strenuous language and to go through the process of transfer 
once more. 

During July the Americans were fighting around Chateau 
Thierry and were stopping the German drive that was causing 
France to despair. Possibly this success assured our trip to 
Italy, for after this time our movement was speeded up. Many 
things were necessary, such as rolling stock, travel rations, 
equipment, motor trucks, etc. We understood that we were the 
only American regiment going to Italy and therefore we would 
have to take care of much that is usually looked after by special 
units. However, on July 25th, the first section of the 332nd 
marched to Foulain, boarded the train and was on the way to 
Italy. 



^4 IN ITALY WITH THE 



CHAPTER II 
France to Italy; Sommacompagna and Verona 

THERE WERE ABOUT thirty motor trucks and two touring 
cars fastened on flat cars, and these trucks filled with 
canvas tents looked more inviting to us than the notorious 
box ears marked "40 HOMME S, 8 CHEVAUX". 

This journey, which was to occupy three days and two nights, 
was remarkable for its changing scenes and climates. Leaving 
Foulam about 3:00 P. M. July 25th, we proceeded in a south- 
eastern direction, reaching Gray about twilight. 

Drawing forth our canned willy, crackers, tomatoes, etc., 
we had dinner.'^ Upon completing this luxurious repast we 
pulled a canvas tarpaulin over us and put our '' bedroom'' 
m shape. The evening air was growing colder as we approached 
the mountains, but we slept comfortably even though we had 
aUowed ourselves the luxury of removing shoes and puttees. 

While we had taken care of ourselves in this manner, the 
boys m the box cars were anything but comfortable. The 
French box car is not the large one we see on American rail- 
roads and it was only by taking turns at lying down that any- 
one got any sleep. 

We awoke early and found ourselves in the scenic foot- 
hills of the Alps. Little villages snuggled up on the mountain 
sides, the stone roofs sparkling in the sunshine like those of 
a fairy city. There was, as usual, the towering church in each 
village round which the houses clustered '4ike little chicks 
under the mother hen's wings." 

Here and there as we journeyed on, we saw wonderfully 
constructed castles set on high peaks commanding the country- 
side. One glance at their evident strength, together with the 
thought that firearms were unknown in the old days, and one 
ceased to wonder how the barons ruled the country in feudal 
days. Not only were the castles strongly built; thev were beau- 
tiful as well, and the eye loved to dwell on them as long as 
they were in sight. 

Many mountains are absolutely barren; they seem to be 
exhausted with the age long battle with the elements. When 
Napoleon marched through these valleys they were old; when 
Hannibal led his conquering Carthaginians they were old; and 
the years since have added nothing but more scars and fissures 
to their old sides. A few miles of these barren hills were quite 



332nd INFANTRY 15 



depressing and we were glad when they had been left behind 
and mountains, green from, top to bottom, took their places. 
Many of the peaks were snow-capped, though the days were 
quite mild. 

The next large city we passed through was Aix-les-Bains. 
We had no time to try the famous waters, for the train starter 
with his little ^'fish horn" soon sent us on our way. Shortly 
after, we passed through Chambery and when we awoke on the 
morning of the 27th, we were on the way to Montmelian. This 
town was of especial importance to us because here in the 
mountains, the English had established a washing station. Our 
train stopped and everyone got off and enjoyed a wash or a 
shave. Hot coffee was furnished and we had our noonday meal. 

With our toilet and meal completed we proceeded, journey- 
ing on past St. Julien and St. Michel, past the lovely waterfall 
at La Praz, and finally reached Modane, the last French town, 
about 9:00 P. M. 

We remained here more than an hour. The Red Cross 
representatives distributed bars of chocolate and hot coffee 
with rum, all of which was thankfully received on this cold 
night. 

About 10:30 P. M., an electric engine was attached to our 
train and we were whizzed through a very long tunnel. Upon 
reaching the other end, we were in Italy. 

The inhabitants of the little town at which we stopped were 
most enthusiastic in their welcome, although it was near mid- 
night. A band played the ''Star Spangled Banner," Italian 
troops saluted and the people gave us chocolate, little flags, 
cigarettes and sandwiches. We wondered that Italy had such 
an abundance of these articles since France was barren. 

An Italian general caused much laughter when he approached 
the boys, torch in hand, ''to inspect the Americans." 

The Italians have a way of waving the hand in greeting 
that furnished much amusement. The arm is held up, palm 
of the hand inward and the hand is rapidly opened and closed. 
Shouts of "Viva V Americani" accompanied each move of the 
fingers. The boys were quick to reply and answering shouts of, 
"Viva 1' Italia," came from them. 

Later in the night we entered Turin and here again were 
delightfully received. We ourselves could not realize what 
our presence meant to these people. 

In the early morning we passed beautiful Lake Como and, 
some time later, caught a glimpse of Milan, the outline of her 
venerable Cathedral standing out from the lower buildings of 
the city. Our train section did not enter Milan, but another 



16 IN ITALY WITH TEE 

section stopped there and the boys marched through the city 
amid great applause. 

One could not journey across the northern part of Italy, 
from the border to Milan, without exclaiming at the fertility 
of the soil. Every inch of ground is productive and the climate 
is much warmer than on the other side of the mountains. 

At noon on the 27th we reached Verona. Again our pro- 
gress was halted by our enthusiastic Allies who showered us 
with little Italian flags and handkerchiefs, while their bands 
played our National anthem over and over. Of course this was 
popular ( ?) with us as it gave us an opportunity of standing 
at attention and saluting. 

Once more we started and our next and final stop was Villa 
Franca. Here, amid great enthusiasm, we detrained. The 
American Red Cross surprised us with hot coffee and doughnuts 
and never was a lunch more appreciated. While we ate, Amer- 
ican aviators flew above us, doing amazing stunts. 

We eventually collected all of the headquarters property, 
put it on a truck and set out for Sommacompagna, later called, 
' ' Summer-complaint. ' ' In less than half an hour, we came into 
this little town which was to be the home of Regimental Head- 
quarters, Headquarters Company and the First Battalion. The 
Second Battalion and Field Hospital No. 331 were located at 
historic Custozza ; the Third Battalion remained at Villa Franca 
with the Supply Company. The 331st Field Hospital had been 
attached to the regiment when we left France. The Machine 
Gun Company was alone at Villa Contini. 

Our driver took us through the walled streets of the town 
and set us down before the doors of ^ ' The Villa of 1001 Roses. ' ' 

Not knowing where our quarters were to be, we made our 
bunks on the floor. Right there we became acquainted with 
the Italian mosquito and of all the mosquitoes we have met, he 
is the most voracious and insistent. ''Cusses'* and slaps were 
heard throughout the night. 

At every move of the regiment new orders governing the 
actions of the troops are issued. So, for a time we were quite 
busy getting these out. Not too busy, however, to explore our 
villa. It was the property of an Italian Countess, widow of an 
Italian general. The building, of white stone, had a balcony 
in front from which the Countess often looked down at the 
curious '' Americanos. ' ' At the south end there was a large 
room, very likely a conservatory, the walls of which were cov- 
ered with what were at one time beautiful paintings. This 
was the office of the Sergeants Major. At the other end of the 
building, the Colonel and Adjutant had their desks. 



332nd INFANTRY 17 



In front of the building the road divided forming a round 
plot of grass on which were shrubbery, flowers and palm trees. 
To the left was a thicket of bamboo trees; to the right were 
majestic palms. Immediately before our entrance was a grape 
arbor, which, in the hot weather, was very enticing. 

The rear, however, was most attractive. Passing across the 
court, shut in on three sides by the villa, the garage and the 
servants quarters, one came to a grove of cool, hanging trees- 
Winding paths bordered by the hedgerows led through this^ 
grove to the edge of a steep hill. Here a small balcony of 
stone had been built and one could see directly below, the white 
road twining its serpentine course among green trees, past, 
little red roofed village houses presided over by the eternal 
campanile of the village church. While we sweltered in the^ 
sun amid these tropical surroundings, the mountain tops, vis- 
ible across the valley, were snow-capped. 

Sommacompagna is quite small. When one walked throughi 
the streets there was a feeling as of being walled in. The 
church, the municipio, the vino shops and the houses were made 
of stone, and walls of masonry extended around the boundaries 
of each person's property. Five minutes walk took one into 
the country and the country meant the open fields, for in Italy 
the farmers live in the towns and go out to work their farms.. 

Possibly we had come to Italy to cement national relations; 
to put out any lingering fire of love the Northern Italians had 
for the Germans; to show Italy that America was at her side. 
Nevertheless, as in France, when ^'Assembly" sounded in the 
early morning, doughboys, gun in hand, poured from barns, 
cellars and houses for the daily work. On the hottest days, 
drills were ordered and borne, but when evening came, the 
tension was relaxed and until 10:30 the boys had good times. 

In this section of Italy there are many irrigation ditches 
fed by mountain streams, so that the farms are very productive. 
These streams and ditches were very popular as swimming 
places after a hot day's drill and along the banks could be seen 
many future husbands drilling themselves in the art of 
laundering. 

Then, there were the new vinos (wines) and cognacs of 
Italy to be tried and many pleasant evenings were spent in 
dingy little shops we would not think of entering at home. 

Others, musically inclined, struck up an acquaintance with 
the owner of a piano and thus amused themselves with the good 
old American tunes. The Italians generally liked American 
rag-time. We were made welcome everywhere and in turn 
thought highly of our hosts. 



18 IN ITALY WITH THE 

Some of us were fortunate enough to secure rooms with beds 
and we felt as if we were going to like the war in Italy. Owing 
to mosquitoes we found use for the mosquito nets issued by the 
Quartermaster, for we persisted in sleeping with the windows 
open despite our '' landlady '' who insisted on closing them. 
The natives close their windows at night and sprinkle water 
upon the floor. 

The kitchen of this house contained a stone fire-place with 
a large copper pot hung on a tripod. In this vessel almost 
everything was cooked over a fire made of twigs. Near the 
fire-place hung a pair of copper pails in which the women car- 
ried drinking water. These pails are fastened in the ends of a 
wooden device which fits over the shoulders and it was a com- 
mon sight to see the women carrying them up the street while 
their wooden shoes clattered on the pavement. 

In Italy there is a great devotion to the Madonna as is 
evident from the many shrines along the roads. An incident 
in this connection is worth recording, illustrating how this faith 
and devotion is inculcated in the children from birth. The baby 
of the house stumbled, fell upon the floor and cried. Her elder 
sister, about 14, quickly picked up a staute of the Madonna 
and held it toward the infant. The latter 's face lighted as she 
grasped the statue and the cries abruptly ceased as she pressed 
the statue to her lips. 

While at Sommacompagna, two important personages vis- 
ited us. One, the King of Italy, who reviewed the regiment 
August 1st and complimented it highly on its marching and 
bearing; the other, the Prince of Wales who lunched with the 
Colonel. 

At this town we became acquainted with the Italian oxen 
and donkeys. It was an ordinary sight to see a team consist- 
ing of an ox and a very small donkey drawing a cart. 

Our meals here were very poor, at least in our Company. 
This question is largely up to the Mess Sergeant and cooks, 
but often, if the ofl&cers gave more attention to the meals they 
would be better. 

It was said, our beef was killed one day and served the 
next, so that it was too fresh to eat and, accordingly, many 
claimed it caused illness. 

The ''hand shaking" policy seemed to have taken possession 
of everyone upon entering Italy and, in line with this, one half 
of the regiment was given passes and truck rides to Verona 
every Sunday. Verona is about an hour's ride from Somma- 
compagna. 



332nd INFANTEY 19 



One has many thoughts on entering a famous old Italian 
city. Here is Verona, old before the discovery of America, 
within whose walls great Dante lived and saw his Beatrice, 
which event gave to the world one of its sublimest poems, ' ' The 
Divine Comedy." Here is the tomb of Romeo and Juliet who 
have been made immortal by Shakespeare ; here is the old arena 
built under Diocletian in 290 A. D.; here is the tomb of the 
Scagliere; here is the church of St. Anastasia built in 1261. 
How we wandered through this ancient city amid strange yet 
somehow familiar scenes! How we wished we had studied our 
history and literature more diligently when in school ! How we 
longed to speak the Italian language so that we might ask about 
this palace, that statue, this old church, that curious inscrip- 
tion ! There is much to see and to learn in old Verona. 

Its many treasures of the past, so fondly preserved, have not 
materially stopped the progress of this age, for the stores of 
its narrow business street, "Broadway" we called it, through 
which no horse or automobile passes, showed all the modern 
appliances to be found in the stores of the original Broadway. 
We were delightfully surprised. 

While we were in Verona, a moving picture, blatantly 
billed as the "Mysteries of New York" was being shown. We 
were not interested but we did live through one act of an in- 
sipid love play in another theatre. The Italian idea of love as 
depicted on the screen is too "soft" for the rough and ready 
American, and Italian movies were never popular with the 
boys. 

Our band sometimes came to Verona to play. The 
band stand was in a small park within a stone's throw of the 
arena. Across the street were several restaurants. To one of 
these we found our way and without trouble fell into the de- 
lightful Italian habit of taking refreshments seated at a table 
placed out upon the spacious sidewalk. We discovered "near 
ice-cream" and were quite happy. 

Incidentally, we learned that the Signorinas of Italy are 
very lovely and that they are not amateurs in dressing at- 
tractively. Those of the better class are always chaperoned in 
the evening. There were many such in company of father, or 
father and mother, and their deportment and beauty caused 
hearts to beat, while thoughts of Her in far off America rushed 
to mind. 

During a field meet held at Verona, an American broke the 
world's record throwing the hand grenade. 

Thus in work and play the days passed. We loved Italy 
at this time. It had been impressed upon us that we had been 



20 IN ITALY WITH THE 

chosen from the entire A. E. F. to represent American soldiery 
and that upon our actions Americans would be judged. The 
boys strove hard to maintain this standard. 

About the middle of August, our Colonel began to think 
that fetes and reviews better fitted a conquering army than a 
regiment so lately civilians. He felt that town life, with the 
regiment in four different villages, was not good for discipline, 
and to the utter astonishment and objection of the Italians, 
civilian and military, we moved, on the 14th of August to a 
field near Vallegio. 



332nd INFANTEY 21 



CHAPTER III 
In Tents near Vallegio; Treviso; Villa Angelica 

FOR THE FIRST TIME since we were at Havre, the regiment 
was united. There were acres of tents in orderly rows 
forming company streets. A highway ran through the 
center of the camp separating Regimental Headquarters and 
the Auxiliary companies from the letter companies. 

Instead of the conservtory of a villa, we now had a tent for 
an ofl&ce; instead of a soft bed and a roof over us at night, 
we had a tent and the earth. Most of us enjoyed this open 
air life more than the town life. 

The ground occupied by the regiment was a mulberry grove. 
The peculiar looking, stunted mulberry trees were grown for the 
leaves upon which the silk worms feed. Silk was manufactured 
in Villa Franca and neighboring towns. 

Vallegio is very hot and, on some days, the heat of the sun 
readily penetrated the canvas and seemed to be trying to dry 
the blood in our bodies. Yet, through it all, the boys drilled. 
How they stood it, God onlj^ knows. Of course, there were 
frequent rests but only American grit carried them through. 
War is what Sherman said it is, but the general thought was 
that it was not worse than drilling in Italy during August. 

While the days were hot, the evenings were very pleasant 
and the nights were cool, so that one recuperated from the heat 
and labor of the day. 

It may be interesting to know what a day meant to this 
so-called ** Propaganda Regiment.'' The following is a copy of 
a Drill Schedule in operation at this time: 
Monday A. M. 
7:00 to 7:30 Physical exercise, running, jumping obstacles 
so as to develop agility and endurance of 
soldiers. 

Instruction in use of Gas Mask. 
Rest. 

Company combat drill; including debouching 
from departure trenches. Attacks against 
points of resistance. 

Bolt manipulation with magazine floor plate, 
magazine spring and follower removed. 
Rest. 
Platoon close order drill and Manual of Arms. 



7:30 to 


8:00 


8:00 to 


8:15 


8:15 to 


9:00 


9:00 to 10:00 


10 :00 to 10 :15 


10:15 to 10:45 



22 IN ITALY WITH THE 

P. M. 

2 :50 to 3 :30 Position and aiming exercises. 
3:30 to 5:30 Developing company strong points. 
Tuesday Schedule the same as for Monday except; 

8:15 to 9:00 A. M., period devoted to giving 
platoons an opportunity to go over carefully 
their particular phase of the company combat 
drill of the previous day, using Gas Masks, 
7 :30 to 8 :00 A. M. Bayonet instruction. 
Wednesday Same as Monday, except the period 8:15 to 

9:00 during which time instructions will be 
given company specialists. 
Thursday Same as Wednesday, except 7:30 to 8:00 

bayonet instruction. 
Friday Practice march under assumed tactical situa- 

tion. 
Saturday Trenches. 

Looks like a real day's work in any climate. 
Later, much of this drill was changed to sham battle in 
trenches in conjunction with Italy's justly famous Arditi, under 
Major Allegretti. Each battalion took its turn in occupying 
prepared trenches which they undertook to hold against Italians. 
Bullets, bombs, and signals were used and an amateur would 
have thought a real battle was in progress. Near these 
trenches were vineyards and thereby hangs a tale which, how- 
ever, must not be told now. 

A rifle range was also constructed and those men who had 
never fired a rifle were given instruction. The one-pound and 
trench mortar batteries also had a range and our neighborhood 
took on more of a warlike appearance than the Italian- Austrian 
front. 

Our Machine Gun men were not idle either, for they were 
sent to an Italian machine gun school in the mountains where 
they were drilled and perfected in such trifles as hitting targets 
on the opposite side of a mountain. They learned to shoot the 
FIAT (Italian) guns as well as their own. 

However, though we worked hard through September and 
into October, life was not all work. In the camp itself we 
finally had a Red Cross and a Y. M. C. A. hut which were well 
patronized. It was a common sight to see two hundred or more 
boys iji the canteen line waiting to buy cigarettes, chocolate 
bars and lemonade. 

Near the camp was an irrigation ditch about five to seven 
feet wide and about four feet deep. About a mile away was the 
Mincio River, a real mountain stream. We bathed in both 



332nd INFANTRY 23 



places, but one day, the Powers that were, decreed that the 
enlisted men should swim in the ditch, for *' Officers Only" 
were allowed in the river. It is superfluous to reproduce the 
comment, but let the reader think of nearly 4000 men in a 
ditch, in which clothes also were washed, while for less than 
two hundred officers, there was a large river. 

One could also go to the little town of Vallegio. It had noth- 
ing to offer except the usual little wine shops and grocery 
stores where we showed a decided fondness for the Swiss choc- 
olate and almonds. Occasionally, someone would go out into 
the country and bring back enough eggs, tomatoes, potatoes, 
etc., so that a few of the boys could enjoy a ''real" meal in 
a Signora's kitchen. 

We had been at the camp for several days when we were 
surprised by the arrival of the officers and non-commissioned 
officers we had left at the Infantry school in France. A few 
were missing, they having been given duties in France. 

While at the tented camp, the system inaugurated at Som- 
macompagna, of using the trucks on Sundays to show Italy to 
the regiment and the regiment to Italy, was continued, and 
our first trip, on August 18th, was to Peschiera, situated on 
Lake Garda, beautiful, crystal, blue Lake Garda. 

Like many Italian towns, Peschiera boasts a splendid old 
wall, relic of the days of battle. The town itself held us just 
during the time required to eat a lunch, for there was a boat 
making a trip around Lake Garda sometime after lunch and we 
could not miss that trip. The lake extends up into Austria, 
that country controlling the northern end while Italy controlls 
the southern. It is fed by streams from the melted snow of 
the mountains, the bases of which meet the water. The shores 
are very rocky and when the boat docked at the little landings, 
the dancing waves could be seen lapping over the doorsteps of 
the stone houses built on the very edge of the land. The vil- 
lages are beautiful and quaint beyond comparison. The pic- 
turesque dress of the people ; the ornamented though poor stone 
houses; the little donkeys; the blue, crystal-clear water all 
about, with the mountain peaks above hidden by clouds, made 
an unforgetable picture. Many of these simple villagers had 
never seen an American soldier and when we approached a 
town, at least half of the population turned out to stare at us 
and wave a greeting in their peculiar, backhanded way. 

On the hillsides facing the lake, many pretty homes have 
been built, always of stone, while vines and shrubbery are so 
well trained and trimmed that these dwellings look like fairy 
palaces. 



24 IN ITALY WITH THE 

On the 24th of August, the big minstrel show, which the 
talent of the regiment had been rehearsing for some time, took 
IDlace. Neighboring British and Italian officers were to be 
guests of our officers this evening, while two nights later, the 
enlisted men were to entertain the men of the British and 
Italian armies. 

A stage was erected with one side of the Y. M. C. A. as its 
back, and the ''orchestra" was gayly decorated with lanterns 
and flags. The performance was a regulation American min- 
strel show and was a great credit to the boys who took part 
in it. Besides the minstrel show proper, there were sketches 
by two clever cartoonists, several vocal solos, a violin solo and 
dances. This may sound ordinary but considering the time, the 
circumstances and the place, it will be seen how extraordinary 
it was. 

The performance was repeated for enlisted men two nights 
later and once more proved a success. 

These good times, however, were not to last, for on the 
11th of September we said goodbye to our Second Battalion 
which had been selected to hold a sector of the Italian line on 
the Piave River. With moist eyes we watched them march 
away. How many of them, our comrades of a year, would 
return? But they, led by the band, stepped away lightly with 
shining faces. I know that even mortal battle was more wel- 
come to them than that that soul-deadening drill in the hot sun. 
Hourly we awaited news from them, but beyond a few meagre 
reports that they were successfully occupying the trenches, we 
heard little. 

From what I have been able to learn, however, they went 
into their sector and held it. With characteristic American 
love of action, their quiet sector was hardly bearable. For 
Americans to stand silently in the trenches and watch enemy 
shells and aeroplanes pass overhead without replying was un- 
heard of. However, 'Ho take a shot," as many wished would 
have called down upon them the merciless rebuke of the Italian 
General under whose orders they were. No unauthorized shoot- 
ing was allowed. So, our gallant Second chafed and obeyed 
orders as good soldiers do. 

On Friday, September 13th, the remainder of the regiment 
was engaged in a sham battle. They were advancing under a 
barrage laid down by our machine guns, one pounders and 
trench mortars. All the gunners were working fast in an 
earnest endeavor to make a good showing. A group of offi- 
cers was standing behind the trench mortars watching the 
mimic battle, when, without warning, there was a terrible ex- 



332nd INFANTRY 25 



plosion. One of the trench mortar shells, it was thought, ex- 
ploded prematurely, scattering death and injury for many 
yards. When the final count was taken, it was found that one 
lieutenant and four men were killed and about forty-seven 
ofi&cers and men were wounded. Among the ofi&cers wounded 
so badly that they never again joined the regiment were the 
Lieutenant Colonel, one major and the Supply Ofi&cer. 

On September 14th there was a great military funeral 
when the dead were lovingly laid to rest in the Italian cemetery 
at Villa Franca. 

On September 18th, ^'B" Company and the Band went to 
Rome to participate in the annual September 20th celebration. 
With them were several of our best, athletes. When the Amer- 
icans arrived in Rome, the Italians wondered why they had 
come. However, seeing they were there, they offered an Italian 
barracks to them. Besides this incident, the most noteworthy 
event was the disappointment of being in Rome with no money, 
for many of the boys were robbed in this barracks of the 
few lires they had. 

About this time, September 25th, the fighting in the vicin- 
ities of St. Mihiel, St. Quentin and Dixmunde was fiercely pro- 
gressing and the Allies were smashing great holes in the Hin- 
denburg line. By the light of a candle the Regimental Inter- 
preter read the news from the daily Italian papers and as he 
called the names of the towns mentioned, we drew red ink lines 
on our map of France. These were thrilling days. 

These glowing reports from the Western front and the 
everlasting drilling combined to make life extremely disgust- 
ing to the boys. Many feared that the war would be over 
before the 332nd ever saw the front, and none of us could 
understand why the Italian front was so quiet while at every 
other point where there were Allies, there was a hail of shot 
and shell. 

A camp bulletin was written by one of the Chaplains and 
it proved very popular until it was forced to suspend publica- 
tion after the sixth issue owing to the lack of duplicating paper 
for the mimeograph machine. 

At this time a post card craze seized nearly everyone. The 
post card industry in Italy is surpassed only by the vino and 
macaroni industries. 

On September 30th, Bulgaria capitulated after a series of 
severe battles with the Serbians, Greeks and French. 

During this time, you will remember, the Second Battalion 
was in the trenches, and it was generally thought that the 
First or Third Battalion would go up to relieve them in a few 



26 IN ITALY WITH TEE 

weeks. The ColonePs idea in occupying these trenches was to 
reserve a place for the Americans when the day of battle came. 
However, before this plan could be carried out, the tents at 
Vallegio were struck and the regiment was moved to Treviso 
by train and the Second Battalion was ordered from the 
trenches so as to join the regiment at Treviso. 

Regimental Headquarters remained till the last. Everyone 
except about twenty of us had gone. We were to follow in 
trucks with the records, boxes, etc. It was sad and lonesome 
to look at the former site of a living, bustling camp, now de- 
serted and dead. Only a few fires, burning rubbish, remained 
to mark the place. With the coming of daylight, we loaded 
the trucks and set out for Treviso. 

The trip occupied the entire day but it was pleasant in 
every respect. On passing through a village one could always 
get hot coffee, chocolate and fresh bread which helped our 
canned meals considerably. 

It was evening when we reached our troops billeted in an 
Italian barracks on the outskirts of Treviso. Having no definite 
orders to proceed we remained for the night. In the morning 
we received orders to go to a villa outside of Treviso, which 
we did. 

The name was Villa Angelica. The estate was a large one 
with the usual tropical trees and luxuriant vegetation even in 
October. 

Our sleeping quarters were in one of the wings of the U 
shaped building. The walls and floors were of stone or cement 
and with no fire, they were not very comfortable with only a 
straw tick and a blanket separating one from the floor. 

Our office was a chapel and part of the floor consisted of 
six marble slabs marking the last resting place of former mem- 
bers of the family. 

Being now quite near the front, we could see at least five 
Italian observation baloons. Dozens of aeroplanes passed over- 
head daily and parts of many battles were seen as the aviators 
pursued one another across the sky. While here, we saw an 
Austrian plane suddenly dart out from behind a cloud and blow 
up an observation balloon before the observer could descend. 

At night all lights were forbidden and the rumbling of the 
guns told us to heed the warning. However, it seems that 
Americans are ever ready to take a chance and with window 
blinds securely fastened, many a grand poker game was played 
by the candle light. This was our only recreation. 

Outside, the nights were black and one took his life in his 
hands to go walking. We thought a great drive was imminent, 



332nd INFANTRY 27 



for every night the roads leading to the front were alive with 
moving vehicles. It seemed as though the steady flow of slow 
moving guns would never stop and we marveled at the dexterity 
of the unlighted, flying camions as they raced to the front with 
loads of supplies and raced to the rear for more. 

Our companies were on the outskirts of Treviso in two 
Italian barracks. Their daily tasks were drills and hikes. 

On October 14th, Samuel Gompers paid us a visit. The 
band played in his honor and his face brightened to hear the 
familiar rag-time. He gave a short address on the value of 
team-work. 

Two days later we were ordered to Treviso. We had ex- 
pected to go forward. However, despite our grumbling at the 
many moves, we were glad to bid farewell to Villa. Angelica 
and its darkness. 



28 IN ITALY WITH THE 



CHAPTER IV 
Treviso — Before the Drive 

TREVISO IS SITUATED about 18 miles northwest of 
Venice. Before the war its population was about 17,000 
but when we came to Treviso, it looked like a city of the 
dead. Nearly all the building's were locked and the windows 
were boarded up, while many houses were in ruins from aeroplane 
raids. Most of the people had fled. 

A walk around the town revealed an entirely different style 
of architecture than we had ever seen. This difference con- 
sists in the second floor of the buildings arching over the side- 
walks as far as the curb, the supports being columns flush with 
the curbing. The arrangement was beneficial during the long 
rainy season. 

Many canals of a questionable degree of sanitation dissect 
the town. It was a constant wonder to us that disease did not 
result from them. It is certain that many mosquitoes were 
bred there. The women washed clothes on the banks of the 
streams. 

A city wall of ancient date, as could be seen from the Vene- 
tian lion shown thereon, completely encircled the town. This 
lion, found on many walls and monuments in the vicinity marked 
the time when Venice ruled Treviso and adjacent territory, from 
the 14th to the 17th centuries. 

There were few buildings of note. The Cathedral of San 
Pietro with Titian's ''Annunciation," and the Municipio were 
most important. Besides these there were the usual shops 
selling military goods, (mostly of American origin) perfumes, 
post cards and VINO. 

At night Treviso was not inviting. Having been severely 
bombed by Austrian aviators, no outside lights were tolerated 
and those burning indoors had to be well screened. The only 
places where one could find amusement were in the little wine 
rooms. A typical approach to one was through a dark, nar- 
row street. A tiny gleam of light east a streak across the 
alley. As one drew near, loud laughter and talk was heard. 
It is bottled sunshine present in the red and white wines, the 
cognacs, vermouths and grappa. 

The Headquarters of the regiment and our billets were in 
a three story college building which, with its many small rooms, 
made the most ideal place we had had thus far. The offices 



332nd INFANTRY 29 



were well furnished with good tables, desks, chairs and electric 
lights. There was also a piano, which with the stringed in- 
struments played by members of the band, made a jazz band 
that commanded attention. 

The companies were still housed in the two barracks. 
Straw was provided for the bed sacks which were placed on 
the floor. Stone floors may wear better than wooden floors, 
but they are not nearly so efficient as beds. The next time 
there is a war, let's hope it is in a country where wooden floors 
are in style. The rolling kitchens were set up in the yard 
below where the meals were served. The meals generally con- 
sisted of beef, brown beans, macaroni, rice, coffee, war-bread 
and macaroni, rice, war-bread, beef, brown beans and coffee. 

On the 13th of October the Second Battalion came out of 
the trenches and about two days later joined us at Treviso. 
Though not one had been injured or killed, they were pro- 
claimed heroes and were the envy of the regiment. 

The work of the day consisted of long, vigorous hikes with 
full mobile equipment worn. To add to the work, the weather 
was rainy and cold. It was at this time that the changing of 
clothes was adopted in order to create a false impression as to 
the number of Americans in Italy. Upon going out in the 
morning, overcoats and helmets were worn and upon return- 
ing in the afternoon by a different route, the overcoats and 
helmets were out of sight and raincoats and caps were worn. 
The next day, perhaps, the change would be to leather jerkins. 
The object was attained, for later, the Austrian prisoners re- 
ported that they had been under the impression that there were 
several divisions of Americans in Italy. 

In Treviso we were fortunate enough to be able to obtain 
hot baths in real tubs. Two hospitals, one of which had been 
bombed, containing seven and five tubs respectively, became 
the busiest places in town. The price of two and one half 
lires per bath was charged. 

Sharing Treviso with us were several thousand Italian sol- 
diers and a few thousand English and Scotch troops. These 
British troops were a happy crowd. Four years of war had 
made happy-go-lucky lads out of the most serious. We at- 
tended their picture shows, played football with them and 
clinked cups with them in perfect harmony. 

About this time, Ostend and Lille were falling and the 
whole Hindenburg line was crumbling. Talk of an early peace 
filled the air. This was welcome news, for our thoughts were 
always of home. Nevertheless, we wanted to return only 
after a decisive victorv for the Allies. 



30 IN ITALY WITH THE 

On the other hand, the news from home at this time was 
startling in its account of the ravages of a strange disease, 
* ^ Influenza, ' ' which was decimating our camps and was 
spreading to the civilians. Until this time, we had had no 
trouble with the ''Flu.'' 

About October 29th, the moon came out in all its silvery 
splendor. It was so noticeable because it was practically the 
only light we had outdoors. The evenings were mild and invit- 
ing and as we walked under the arched houses and over the 
many little stone bridges, we talked of the possibility of an 
air raid, for moonlight nights are the delight of aviators. 

On the night of October 22nd, I retired early. My sleep 
was unbroken until about 11:00 P. M. when I was awakened 
by an awful concussion which seemed just a block away. It 
appeared to my startled senses that a part of the earth had in 
some way torn loose from the main body and was hurtling 
through the sky. I do not remember of sitting up in bed, but 
I suppose I did. The first object to meet my startled gaze was 
my room-mate running toward the window. Exclaiming, 
''What's that!" I bounded from the bed and, gaining the 
window, peered anxiously at the heavens for, in a flash, I 
realized it was an air raid. Despite the din and roar of the 
guns far and near, we could hear the hum of the motors but 
could see no planes. A machine gun across the street in a 
building with its rapid "tat-tat-tat," sounded ridiculously like 
a woodpecker drumming on a tree and in spite of the danger 
caused much amusement. A block or so away, a big gun boomed 
every few minutes while for miles around guns of all sizes 
spoke. 

The sky was dotted with the beams of powerful searchlights, 
which tried to locate the invaders. While the moon was bright, 
there were many small black clouds swiftly moving across the 
sky. It was an ideal night for a raid. We listened to the guns 
and watched the flares and then wondered at the silence in the 
building. Upon investigation we found all of the boys in the 
yard below looking up at the sky. We joined them. The great 
lights still searched the heavens, the beams reminding one of 
a boy's mirror shining on the ceiling of a room. Far up, black 
little puffs of smoke from the shells of the anti-aircraft guns 
floated around and, sometimes, we mistook them for aeroplanes. 
Again, far above, a small flame would burst forth and drop 
and all would be dark again. 

It was not long however before we saw the folly of stand- 
ing in the open, for shrapnel from our guns rained upon the 
ground near us, sounding like horseshoes as they struck the 



332nd INFANTRY 31 



pavement. As soon as the ''rain'^ was over, the boys ran out 
to collect souvenirs, these consisting of rusty, jagged pieces 
of iron, some eight inches long. 

Without seeing the aeroplanes, we retired to the straw 
ticks, somewhat disappointed. Nevertheless, before we could 
get to sleep, the big gun up the road spoke again and the 
chorus of smaller ones followed. Again we rushed from the 
room to follow the lights, the flares and the smoke clouds. 
This time our curiosity was rewarded with the sight of a plane. 
In the searchlight's ray, the whole body of the plane looked as 
if it had been dipped in phosphorus. It gleamed. I have no 
idea how fast that little body moved across the sky. Shells 
were bursting all around it and we expected every moment to 
see it fall, a mass of flames. But it proved too fast for the 
gunners, as it at length scurried behind a cloud out of the 
grasp of the searchlight. I shall never forget that plane, hur- 
rying like a living thing to its haven behind the cloud. This 
thrilling scene enacted, we once more returned to resume our 
sleep. 

However, we were again aroused when the raiders returned. 
This time the attack was short. 

To our surprise, we learned in the morning, that no great 
damage was done and we heard with joy that not an American 
in any of the three outlying barracks was hurt. These boys 
were not allowed out of the barracks and, as one lad put it, *^I 
lay flat on the floor so tight against the wall that I thought 
I'd push the wall out." 

We thought, at that time, that the planes were out to bomb 
roads and supplies but we were told later that they came over 
to ''get" the English and Americans. In fact, an Austrian 
aviator who had been in the raid was indiscreet enough to 
boast about it in Fiume to some of the Third Battalion men 
when they were in Fiume. When he came to he thought he 
had collided with the moon. 

With the Allies smashing on on every front, the long quiet 
Italian front suddenly burst into flame on the morning of 
October 24th, when the Fourth Italian army began its attack 
in the Mt. Grappa region. The Italian Comando Supremo at 
last had an opportunity of using its cherished plan which was 
to separate the Austrians in the Trentino from those in the 
Piave section by breaking through at Vittorio and by an en- 
veloping movement to bring about the fall of the whole moun- 
tain front which would in turn make imperative an Austrian 
retreat from the plain. 



32 IN ITALY WITH THE 

During October every available man and gun had been 
brought to the front, and between the Brenta River and the 
sea five armies were concentrated. All movements were to be 
completed by October 10th, but the rain raised the Piave 
River, which was the dividing line of the two combatants, so 
that nothing could be done until the 24th. 

Opposed to the sixty three and one half Austrian divisions, 
made up of 1,070,000 men and 7000 guns were fifty-seven Allied 
divisions, or 912,000 men and 8929 guns. Of these fifty-seven 
divisions, fifty-one were Italian, three were British, two were 
French and one was Czeko-Slavok. In addition, there was 
''the young and ardent 332nd American Regiment," which was 
attached to the 10th Army, one of the four armies selected to 
break through the line before Vittorio. 

The task alloted to the 10th Army was to force its way 
across the Piave at the Island Grave di Papadopoli. A desper- 
ate battle raged along the entire front but the 10th could not 
cross the Piave, owing to another rise in the river, until three 
bridges were thrown across on the 26th. The Tenth crossed, 
broke down the enemy resistance and went on to Cimadolmo, 
taking, during the day, over 5600 prisoners and twentj^-four 
guns. 

Somehow, the 332nd was held in reserve and did not par- 
ticipate in this great battle of Vittorio Veneto until several 
days after it had started. 

We were still in Treviso the night of the 26th and when, 
now and then, an occasional Austrian shell whistled over the 
town, we began to think there was a war in Italy. Some of the 
boys were in favor of retiring to the specially built dugouts 
under the city wall. I joined a party of Italian and Italian- 
American soldiers, among them an American Interpreter. We 
descended into one of these holes. My surprise was great when, 
upon reaching the bottom of the steps, I found all sizes, ages 
and sexes of civilians and several soldiers, some standing, some 
sitting and some lying in cots. I had not known there were so 
many civilians in Treviso. We stood around for a few minutes 
but the atmosphere was such that we decided we would rather 
risk a big Bertha than breathe that air. 

In our party were several Italian telegraphers who main- 
tained a station in a heavily sand-bagged building in the cen- 
ter of town. I was invited to accompany them and I enjoyed 
several hours of unique entertainment. 

It was midnight when we arrived at the station. One of 
the telegraphers went out to procure wine while another recon- 
noitered the kitchen. The result of their labors was wine. 



332nd INFANTRY 33 



war-bread and onions. Thus we feasted. At 2:30, with the 
repast over and the guns somewhat quieted, we heeded our 
drooping eyelids and returned to our quarters. 

The next morning we received the glorious news that the 
Scotch and English had crossed the supposedly impassable 
Piave River and had advanced four miles beyond it. Several 
batches of prisoners came in. They were a ragged, wretched 
looking lot. They did not look like the fierce Huns we had 
heard about. From pale, emaciated faces their eyes looked out 
like those of dumb animals. An American near me muttered: 
'^There's a grand indictment of war!'' 

The Allies were pleasantly engaged in going through the 
pockets of the prisoners in search of souvenirs. If something 
of value was found, a cigarette or piece of bread was given the 
hapless prisoner — sometimes. 

Much money of a kind new to the world was found on the 
Austrians. The Austrians had been so sure of ultimate suc- 
cess, that they had printed Italian money, had paid their sol- 
diers with it, and had forced the people whose towns they 
occupied to accept it. 

The sight of the prisoners sent exciting thoughts through 
our minds for, with a battle raging within earshot, we asked 
each other, * ' When will our turn come ? ' ' Were we to continue 
our propaganda mission or were we reserves? Some time be- 
fore we had been placed under the Command of an Italian 
General and had been assigned to his Division. Did this mean 
that we moved toward the battle line? Possibly the Com- 
manding Officer knew, but the boys were bewildered. Every- 
thing seemed set for an early departure. Barracks bags and 
surplus supplies had been stowed away and men were detailed 
to remain as guards. The mail service ceased and when the 
boys started on the march in the morning no one knew if they 
were on a practice march or if they were advancing to battle. 
As usual, rumors were rampant and the news reached us at 
Headquarters, more than once, that our companies had started 
for the front. 

On the night of October 28th, about 9:00 P. M. when I 
returned from a visit, I found Headquarters in an uproar. In 
breathless tones someone informed me that I'd better hurry 
and get ready for we were leaving before midnight. Word 
had been received a few minutes before from the Italian Com- 
mander. I bounded up the stairs and into my room. Most of 
my effects had been stowed away but I had not anticipated 
such short notice. However, my saddle bags were soon stuffed 



34 IN ITALY WITH THE 

full, my roll was made, and when the horses appeared, I was 
ready. 

The Colonel and commissioned staff had gone on ahead and 
we were to join them later. I do not know who received this 
information, but at any rate, when we were ready to go, no one 
knew where we were to meet the Colonel. Thus we were in the 
enviable position of being A. W. 0. L., lost, and our regiment 
was marching to battle ! 

We spurred our horses and raced around the town's quiet, 
dark streets when, finally, someone, (bless him) noticed several 
burning cigarette stubs and we shouted for joy. No one in 
Italy but Americans had cigarettes in abundance so, urging 
our heavily laden horses forward, we followed this distinctly 
American trail and at the city gate met the last company swing- 
ing past. A long procession of rolling kitchens and carts fol- 
lowed, ending with the jolly Veterinarian. We fell in behind 
him and began the march destined to end in Austria. 



332nd INFANTRY 35 



CHAPTER V 
The Drive 

WE HAD NOT GONE FAR when we were made aware of 
the overwhebning volume of traffic on this highway. 
Troops and trucks were hurrying to the front; empty 
trucks were returning ; and this road was not built for two trucks 
and a column of soldiers abreast. It was a most irritating ad- 
vance. Every few minutes came the command to halt and fall 
out to the right of the road. Then, when the road was clear, we 
clambered back and proceeded. 

The night was damp and the cold readily penetrated our 
clothes, chilling us to the bone while the frequent stops made 
it difficult to ''get warmed up.'' 

At 2:30 A. M., the column halted and moved over to the 
side of the road. When more than an hour passed and we still 
remained there in the cold, we wondered what was going on at 
the head of the column. Toward morning there was a stir 
around the rolling kitchens a few yeards from us and upon 
investigation, we found that breakfast was being prepared. 
We crowded around the welcome fire. The hot coffee and rice 
restored our good spirits and warmed us. 

About 6:00 A. M. an orderly found the Detachment and 
gave us the order to report at the head of the column. Upon 
arriving there we saw the first company in Varago being as- 
signed a place to pitch pup-tents. 

The town seemed like the gate to the frontier. Fortunately, 
there was a stone floor and four walls left for us. With the 
weather near the freezing point, the floor did not appeal to me 
as a bed and I searched for boards to lie upon. Being unable 
to obtain any I found it necessary to remove a superfluous 
door. A little later, when I passed this doorway, I noticed that 
the twin to my door was also missing. 

There was nothing for the regiment to do but await the 
thinning out of the traffic. Meanwhile our trucks came up with 
fresh provisions. 

At 7:30 on the morning of the 31st of October we marched 
out of Varago. The road was still congested, the principal 
reason being that the bridges over the Piave had been blown up 
and light pontoons were being used in their stead. The same 



36 IN ITALY WITH THE 

start and stop progress took place and it was not until about 
2:00 P. M. that we reached the Piave. The river is very wide 
here, there being three kilometers between the two shores. 
The streams of the river were very swift and the island was 
gravelly, making progress slow and painful to the burdened 
men and animals. 

On this island of Grave di Papadololi we saw our first 
signs of the recent struggle. Several dead, bloated horses and 
mules halfway in the water met our eyes. Nearby were 
corpses lying as they had fallen two or three days before. 
Helmets, gas masks, rifles and shells were strewn promiscu- 
ously about, near the road. The island is a forlorn place 
at best, but now, battle scarred and with dead men, dead 
horses and implements of warfare lying about, it was one's 
idea of supreme desolation. Here and there were great yel- 
low splotches, showing where the gas shells had fallen. 

At length, the last stream was crossed and we left the 
Piave behind us and passed through the ruins of Cimadolmo. 
On both sides of the road the small streams of more or less 
movement seemed to have collected all of the dead men, dead 
animals and rifles. The horses we saw had great holes in their 
flanks. Starving people under the thumb of a rapacious con- 
querer are not too particular when food is concerned. 

Riding along in silence, looking at the poor dead human 
beings, we wondered if a graj^-haired mother or flaxen-haired 
wife would not wait in vain for their return. I think many of 
us prayed that we would be spared their fate. It seemed ter- 
rible to allow these bodies to lie for days like those of animals, 
exposed to weather and prowling beasts. 

Later we saw graves, large plots where the earth was still 
soft, with a few rude wooden crosses marking them. We saw 
one man lying head foremost in the stream alongside the road. 
It was difficult to believe that a few days before he had been 
living flesh and blood with beating heart, with emotions and 
hopes such as we all have. 

The fields were pitted with great holes where the shells had 
struck and the few houses we saw were in ruins. No, this day's 
travel was not cheerful. 

However, night at last cast its merciful mantle over the poor 
bits of clay and the ruined towns and when eight o'clock had 
come, we had reached our objective, Vazzola. 

The companies pitched tents alongside the road, gathering 
corn stalks which were placed in the tents to lie upon, as the 
ground was cold and damp. 



332nd INFANTRY 37 



The Detachment found its way into a poor farmhouse. One 
could step from the home into the barn as both were under the 
same roof. These people were very thankful at their deliver- 
ance from the long Austrian occupation. Our interpeters told 
us that the Huns had been living upon locusts, boiled grass and 
domestic animals for some time. The people said they had been 
cruelly treated and many of the women had been mistreated. 

Some of the boys slept in the stalls, some in the mangers, 
while as many as could crowd into the kitchen did so, for there 
was a welcome fire in the fireplace. 

The march was resumed in the morning. A few corpses 
and dead animals were still in evidence and there was an un- 
believable quantity of ammunitiour and many rifles lying about. 
Everything pointed to a hasty retreat. 

A body of Italian Cavalry passed us during the day and we 
in turn passed some Tommies belonging to an English supply 
train. They shouted after us : '^ Better get aeroplanes, Sammy, 
if you want to catch them." 

About this time there was some concern about rations. The 
regiment was able to cross the Monticano river but the pon- 
toons were too light for our heavy trucks and they were forced 
to make a detour. Each man had two days iron rations on 
his person. These rations consisted of two small cans of beef 
and from six to eight hard biscuits. Our evening meal on this 
day was half a can of beef, biscuit and coffee. 

We reached Gajarine by the evening of November 1st, about 
thirty miles from Treviso as we marched. The troops fell out 
on the sides of the road and pitched tents in the fields. During 
the night, as we learned later, our trucks with food came up 
this road and passed through the sleeping regiment without 
either party recognizing the other. 

At 2 :00 A. M., November 2nd, we were ordered on the march. 
The horses were left behind and were to come up later. We 
did not see the reason for starting at this time of the morning 
until an hour later when we reached a burnt down bridge at 
the Livenza River. Here we were forced to wait an hour until 
the bridge was repaired. We crossed and pushed on in the un- 
known darkness. At this time we were the advance guard of 
the 31st Italian Division of the Tenth Italian Army, com- 
manded by the British General, Earl Cavan. Our own advance 
guard was a skirmish line consisting of a dozen platoons which 
scoured the country ahead of us. 

We breakfasted in Maron. 

At 9 :00 A. M. we continued our march. During the day 
we crossed the Meduno River and in the afternoon camped 



38 IN ITALY WITH THE 

near Cimpello. At the last crossing the machine guns were 
dismantled and carried across, while the mules swam. 

For the last few hours we were on the heels of the rapidly 
departing enemy. He showed himself skillful in retreat. At 
times, we were told, he had passed just five hours before us 
and we strove to catch up with him. 

On this day, Rome reported that the Austrians were fleeing 
from Udine, fifty miles east of the Piave River, and that 
80,000 prisoners and 1,600 guns had been captured by the 
Allies. On the Eastern, or low land section (our front) the 
Austrians were in full retreat. In the mountains, the battle 
was undecided. 

The position of the Americans, as mentioned above, was 
that of advance guard of the Tenth Army. We also occupied 
the center, the Italians being on our right and the British on 
our left. However, at the time, we saw or heard nothing from 
our Allies. 

In the morning of November 3rd, we again took up the 
pursuit. After marching about twelve miles we reached San 
Lorenzo about 2:30 P. M. and called it a day. 

Our kitchens had failed to cross at one of the rivers and 
had not yet caught up, so there were no hot meals. Besides, 
we had been using our emergency rations and with our sup- 
plies *' Somewhere in Italy," we were in danger of hunger. 

Fortunately, the Austrians had not gathered up all of the 
corn and we were able to buy a sort of corn-meal from the 
natives, called polenti. The people had also dug up some 
wine that had been hidden from enemy eyes for many months. 
After tasting it we were son*y that the Austrians had not dis- 
covered it. 

During the evening of the 3rd, three of us succeeded in an- 
nexing a corn-husk bed and therefore enjoyed a real sleep. 
In the morning we received a bowl of hot half-and-half and 
thought it the best breakfast we had ever had. The people 
were very kind to us but it was noticeable that they were 
actuated greatly by fear. The long Austrian occupation had 
left its effect upon them and they could not understand when 
we offered to pay for our accommodations. 

When we stopped at San Lorenzo on the previous day, the 
Second and Third Battalions with attached platoons had pressed 
forward until they reached the Tagliamento River at a point 
called Ponte della Delizia, about four miles from S. Lorenzo. 
The bridge there had been blown up by the enemy and was still 
burning. The Austrians held the opposite shore having en- 
trenched themselves behind the high dikes which also afforded 



332nd INFANTRY 39 



strong positions for machine guns. Notwithstanding this, they 
allowed the Americans to advance to the river. 

During the evening an English-speaking Austrian called to 
the Americans, asking for a parley. One of the officers was 
sent to him. The Austrian informed him that at 3 :00 P. M. an 
armistice between Italy and Austria became effective and there- 
fore, they could see no reason for further bloodshed. This was. 
NOT news to the American commanders. 

The officer returned safely to the American lines and re- 
ported. However, notwithstanding the folly of further hostile; 
demonstration, the preparations to attack were continued. 
What if the careers of a few hundred Americans in the bloom 
of youth were suddenly ended? What if a few hundred moth- 
ers and fathers never again looked on the fair features of 
their sons? Life was cheap in Europe in 1917 and 1918. The 
regiment could not return to America with no battles to its 
credit! Glory is always preferable to life! 

As mentioned before, the bridge was in flames which threw 
a sort of screen about the vicinity so that the Austrians, 
evidently, did not correctly interpret the American activities. 
At any rate, they did not immediately fire. The Second Bat- 
talion and Machine Gun Company were to pass over the remain- 
ing section of the bridge, descend to the dry river bed and 
deploy along it. Company ''H'^ was to be held in reserve. 
Battalion Headquarters was located behind one of the large 
concrete abutments of the bridge and from this point the action 
was directed. Headquarters Company was to entrench along 
the bank and the Third Battalion moved to the left in support. 
Our patrols reported about a battalion of Austrians across the 
river. 

In the darkness of the early morning the Americans were 
drawing up along the river bed and artillery support was ar- 
ranged for. Most of the movement had been completed when, 
about 3:30 A. M., the Austrians opened fire but, fortunately, 
their bullets went high as revealed by their tracers. The 
American movement being completed just as dawn was break- 
ing, about 5:00 A. M., the order to advance was given. When 
about twenty yards had been covered the Americans were 
ordered to lie upon the ground. Only a few rounds had been 
fired and these were as well controlled here as on the firing 
range. The discipline was perfect. When ^' Cease firing !'' 
sounded down the line, not a straggling, nervous shot was 
heard. 

A little later the order to resume the advance was given and 
this move took the Americans across a shallow stream. Once 



40 IN ITALY WITH THE 

again they '4ay low," and the Allied guns raked the Austrian 
positions which were soon badly battered. This much having 
been accomplished, the command to advance was again given 
and this move took the boys ''over the top." 

They yelled like Indians as they rushed forward and they 
maintained such a line as one sees only at a practice maneuver. 
For a band of untried soldiers they were splendid. The 
Austrians returned a hot fire but the boys pressed on as true 
brothers of the doughboys in France. On and on they went 
and when, at last, close quarters were reached, they showed 
they had forgotten nothing they had learned in the bayonet 
drills back at Camp Sherman. They were irresistible. The 
enemy broke and fled. In the same extended order, the pur- 
suit was continued and every possible place which might shelter 
an Austrian was searched until the town of Codroipo was 
reached, where the order to halt was given. 

At 3 :00 P. M. on the fourth of November the armistice 
became binding and the conquerors rested on their laurels. 
Every Austrian inside a designated line was a prisoner. Most 
were willing ones. 

One of the prisoners marching into Codroipo with the 
Americans attracted the attention of the villagers who shook 
their fists at him and called derisively : ' ' You won 't shoot your 
machine gun from our church tower any more." He had told 
the Americans he was a railroader and knew nothing about war. 

Regimental Headquarters was still at San Lorenzo with the 
First Battalion. At 7:00 A. M. on the 4th, about two hours 
after the battle, we left S. Lorenzo and marched to Valvasone. 
Our victorious comrades were out of sight and hearing across 
the river and we remained on our side, pitching pup tents 
along the river shore. 

Here we learned for the first time that at 3:00 P. M. an 
armistice with Austria went into effect. At first, it seemed 
increditable. Sometime later the order was issued to unload 
all guns at 3 :00 P. M. and this announcement confirmed what 
we at first thought was a rumor and, as the boys broke forma- 
tion, mighty cheers rang out and caps were thrown high in air. 

Throughout the day and night shots were heard. It soun- 
ded like war, but it was only intensely happy Italians throw- 
ing superfluous hand grenades. 

Now that Austria was out of the war, we wondered how 
long Germany could stand alone. The ever present rumor told 
us that we were soon to leave for Bavaria to beat upon Ger- 
many's back door. It seemed that we were to see some real 
fighting at last. 



332nd INFANTRY 41 



On the fifth of November, there was a continual stream 
of Austrian prisoners coming over the bridge and, on the op- 
posite shore, there were thousands of prisoners waiting to cross. 
Every rank of the Austrian army was present: generals with 
their staffs as well as ragged, nearly barefeet privates. Many 
young Italian women ran out to the road as the officers passed 
and, recognizing some as their former prosecutors, caught hold 
of their feet and dragged them from their carriages, slapping 
and otherwise humiliating them. To the Allied soldier, every 
prisoner was a promising possibility for plunder and the Ital- 
ians were exceptionally adept at this. Forming two lines, the 
Italians forced the Austrians to march through in single file 
while they searched the prisoners pockets, after which they were 
made to run the gauntlet. Sometimes even water bottles were 
snatched from them. The Americans were apt pupils and many 
were souvenir hunting, but I do not think they prized water 
bottles. Generally, they gave a few cigarettes if they found 
anything of value upon the prisoners. 

Eight thousand of these prisoners came into American 
hands for delivery to an English prison camp. They were 
sent back guarded by several Headquarters bicycle orderlies. 
The ^'Top Sergeant" of these orderlies was a mischievous look- 
ing, light haired lad so short as to have received the name of 
** Shorty." As the column marched along the road several big 
Austrians stopped to argue among themselves about something 
and paid no attention to the guards who ordered them on. 
However, when '' Shorty" appeared and used the butt of his 
gun across a couple backs, the argument stopped and the march 
continued. Arriving at the English camp, Shorty reported his 
eight thousand prisoners to the officer in charge who asked with 
twinkling eyes: ^'Do you want a receipt?" ''Receipt h — 1," 
said Shorty, "I'm glad to get rid of them!" 

About 5:00 P. M. November 5th we were ordered back to 
San Lorenzo, and on the march I noticed that my buddy was 
shaky and dizzy. He had been complaining of a bad cold and 
headache but we thought it nothing more serious than grippe. 
Toward the end of the two hour walk, it was necessary to grasp 
his arm and help him with his pack. Once more in S. Lorenzo, 
we found our corn-stalk bed and he retired immediately. Dur- 
ing the evening he ate a little polenti. He seemed very tired. 
If only our kitchens or supplies would reach us ! We still had 
our emergency rations but we dared not eat too much of them. 
Fortunately, we were able to borrow twenty-four hours rations 
from the British. 



42 IN ITALY WITH THE 

In S. Lorenzo we learned that the casualties at the bridge 
had been one killed and seven wounded. The dead soldier, 
Corporal Charles S. Kell, ^'G" Company, had been shot 
through the forehead. The injured were being cared for in an 
improvised hospital in S. Lorenzo. With the odds against them, 
every wounded man recovered. Certainly, the regiment was a 
remarkably fortunate one. 

On the following morning we set out for the bridge we had 
left the night before. My friend was feeling better after his 
good night's sleep and said little that was discouraging. 

We had proceeded but a short distance when, upon coming 
around a curve in the road, we sighted the long line of steam- 
ing kitchens. Every face beamed and a greater cheer greeted 
the ''eats" than that which greeted the news of the armistice. 

At noon we reached the bridge and stopped for mess. It 
was the first hot meal for several days and "slum'' never 
tasted better. 

The bridge was choked with traffic so that we were forced 
to wait until nearly 3:00 P. M. to get started. While waiting 
I noticed our two automobiles, crossing the dry bed of the 
river. A happy thought struck me and I started for them. 
There was only the driver, one officer and some officers' bed- 
ding rolls in the one car and I determined to get in with the 
baggage. 

When at last the order came to march, I was perched on top 
of the baggage. The Colonel, Adjutant and an Italian Liason 
Officer, acting as guide, were in a Fiat. We followed them. 
Besides those mentioned, there was a Chaplain and a driver rid- 
ing in a motorcycle with side car attached. The marching 
troops were soon left behind and we continued until we reached 
Codroipo where our Second Battalion and attached platoons 
awaited us. From their lips we learned of the hard chase they 
had given the Austrians with almost nothing to eat and no sleep 
for thirty-six hours. They were a tired lot but they were full 
of praise for ''Daddy" Butler, the Red Cross man who distrib- 
uted chocolate bars and cigarettes to them before they went 
over the top. Among their captures, was a great supply depot 
containing about two million dollars worth of military stores. 

While we talked, the rest of the regiment came up and 
halted in the road. After some discussion it was agreed that 
hot supper from the rolling kitchens should be served to the 
Second Battalion before proceeding. 

Returning to the automobile again, we set out after the Fiat. 
After riding several miles we reached a little, dark village 
where the occupants of the Fiat alighted from their car and 



332nd INFANTRY 43 



passed up the street. Seeing that we were to stop for a while, 
the Chaplain and I walked about the village hoping to find 
something for the inner man, since we had eaten nothing since 
noon. 

There was an '^Osteria" a short distance away where we 
were served sardines and ''beautiful'' fresh bread. When the 
Chaplain asked for the bill, the Signora smilingly answered: 
''Niente" (nothing). Seeing that things were cheap and wish- 
ing to take something to the drivers, the Chaplain asked for 
three more cans of sardines and some bread. While these were 
being brought, an English speaking Italian soldier approached 
and asked us if we would like some steak. We looked at each 
other in frank amazement, for we thought the country had been 
stripped of eatables. Recovering ourselves, we decided to try 
the steak. We laughed heartily over our luck as we consumed 
the delicious steak and bread and thought it fine to be treated 
like grand deliverers of these poor, abused people. While we 
dined, an Italian came from another room and asked the Chap- 
lain his rank. The Chaplain answered truthfully. Since then 
we have wondered what effect that had on the conclusion of 
this episode, for when we asked for our bill, we heard not 
''Niente/' but thirty lires, ($6.00). The Chaplain dug deeply 
into his pocket, (only Chaplains have that much money) and 
we left with a dark, brown taste in our mouths. So much for 
deliverers. 

Later, the Fiat passengers returned and we resumed our 
advance. After traveling some time, we began to see that our 
Italian guide did not know as much about these roads as he 
thought he did. He stopped frequently and with his flash 
light examined his map. It was now about midnight and the 
countryside was asleep. Notwithstanding this, upon arriving 
at a little village, we stopped before several houses, blew our 
horns, threw stones at the windows and called out, until finally 
a women replied. Not much was learned from her and, in 
disgust, the guide took his seat and we began to circle the 
neighborhood. We finally understood that he did not know 
where he was. 

We wondered how the marching troops were standing the 
long march and also if they too would be marched in circles 
when they reached this point. I heard later that they did that 
very thing. 

Eventually, our guide had a thought and we raced after the 
speeding Fiat through the dark, silent night, going at top speed 
to keep up with it and fearful that we would lose the motor- 
cycle which had no light. After much breathless racing about 



44 IN ITALY WITH THE 

we reached a town near Pozzuola. Both cars stopped in the 
town but, in a few minutes, the Fiat went on while we re- 
mained. We understood that we would go no further that night 
and as it was cold, we followed a streak of light coming from 
a building, the door of which was standing open. We found 
half a dozen men shelling corn. Over in the corner there was 
a large pile of corn cobs. Not long after, the men departed, 
kindly failing to put us out. 

As our troops were nowhere in sight and no move seemed 
irominent, we took advantage of the pile of corn cobs. With 
the driver's three blankets, we three. Chaplain, Sergeant Major 
and Driver lay down side by side on the cobs and fell asleep. 

The sound of a running motor awakened us and we sprang 
from the ''bed'' and out to the road. The driver was not 
around but he returned later with the news that the troops 
were close by. We joined them at Pozzuola. 

They had not reached this point until nearly 4:00 A. M. 
and then when the command to halt was given, they were so 
tired and disgusted that some lay down in the muddy road and 
slept. The rest fell off to the side and pitched pup tents. All 
were exhausted. 

And, dear Reader, the war in Italy was over. What was the 
object of this terrible march officially recorded as forty-three 
kilometers (27 miles) but more like thirty-five miles according 
to the men who marched it. We were rushing to no be- 
leaguered Allies. Our presence at this point was not vital to 
anyone's safety. Was it to prove to the imbecile officers, Ital- 
ian, English or American, who ordered it, that Americans could 
accomplish it? I wonder how many deaths could be traced to 
the miserable events of this night? How many tired, under- 
nourished lads found the first ''Flu" germs on the damp 
ground as they lay there exhausted after their struggles? 

At ten o 'clock, after a warm breakfast, the march was con- 
tinued, and at noon, we halted at Lovario and went into bil- 
lets. Resting here until noon the next day, we again resumed 
the march, covering the twelve miles to a field near Ipplis be- 
fore evening. 

The boys pitched tents and prepared for a short stay. 
Headquarters Detachment went on to Ipplis and procured an 
empty house. Some of us found a badly battered stone barn 
for the horses and gathered straw and made a comfortable bed 
on the second floor for ourselves. Not a window or door was in 
the place, and at night the wind swept up the valley whistling 
in the door and out of the windows. The Julian Alps were in 
plain view before us. 



332nd INFANTRY 45 



While here we formed an acquaintance with a friendly Eng- 
lish speaking Italian who one evening took two of us to a sup- 
per of the Italian Sergeants Major. We could scarcely believe 
our eyes when soup, chicken, lettuce, cheese, bread and wine 
were brought in. At the same time, our mess sergeants were 
making life miserable for the Supply Company who, they 
claimed, were not delivering enough canned beef and hard tack ! 

On the eighth, we had a rumor that Germany was going to 
capitulate. On the tenth the Colonel left for Padua, the head- 
quarters of the American Mission to Italy. We wondered what 
was in the air. 

While at Ipplis, the whole regiment was marched to the 
river where they bathed in the cofd mountain water. Luckily 
the air was not cold on this November day. 

On the eleventh, the German Armistice was signed and, on 
the twelfth, the Second Battalion packed up hurriedly and was 
rushed off to Dalmatia. We who remained also took up the 
march at 1 :00 P. M. on the twelfth and proceeded to Cormons, 
Austria, having crossed the border line about 3:00 P. M. 



46 IN ITALY WITH THE 



CHAPTER VI 
Connons, Austria: From Cormons to Treviso 

ON ARRIVING AT CORMONS at the close of November 
12th, the regiment pitched tents in the field close to town. 
Regimental Headquarters and the Detachment found a two 
story building, cleaned it as usual, and occupied it. 

The next morning was spent in ransacking the place which, 
from the maps, pamphlets and books, had evidently been the 
headquarters of the Austrian Police. One of the books found 
was called '^Strafprozess," and was written in question and 
answer form, seemingly for the guidance of the police in ex- 
amining questionable people. 

In the yard of the building we found several rifles and much 
ammunition. A curious thing about the rifles was an inscrip- 
tion on the steel barrel which read, ' ' Republicana Mexicana.'* 

The boys in the companies had found a storehouse full of 
guns, knives and other implements of warfare and had collected 
quite a few souvenirs but the officers heard about it and ordered 
everything replaced. During the day the companies were 
marched to a barracks a short distance from town. This bar- 
racks is reputed to have been built by the Austrians in 1832. 
It was a decided improvement over pup-tents since the weather 
was very cold, damp and raw. It was difficult for Americans 
to procure fuel so a barracks was imperative. 

Cormons has a population of about 6,000 and is a lively place 
for its size. While many Italians live here, German is spoken 
in most of the stores. In those owned by Austrians we were 
very cooly treated and one could readily see the glow of resent- 
ment beneath the sullen stares. However, with many Italian 
troops in the vicinity besides our own. no serious outbreak was 
feared. Nevertheless, the losers were by no means paralyzed, 
for, one night, a train full of Italian refugees was thrown from 
the tracks with serious consequences, due to malicious tamper- 
ing with the rails. Again, on another night, our tranquil ex- 
istence was thrilled by the clang of a flre bell. Running to 
the street we saw a primitive man-power hose-cart being pulled 
down the street. Following this we came to the scene of the 
fire which was one of the wings of a war hospital. It was the 
only wooden building in town and, fortunately, was unoccupied. 
The flames were beyond control of the ''Fire Department,'' 



332nd INFANTRY 47 



whose efforts consisted in trying to keep the fire from spread- 
ing to the other parts of the building. Of course, this fire was 
attributed to the Austrians. 

With the German signature to the armistice, the war ended 
for us. Some dreamed that for them the famous saying, 
*' Heaven, Hell or Hoboken by Christmas," would come true. 
It was intolerable to think that we would not be on the way 
at that time. Little drilling was done; only the necessary 
chores were performed. For the rest, we awaited orders and 
wrote letters. At this time the mail came in regularly and the 
news from home helped to pass the weary hours of waiting. 

My '^ Buddy" pulled through ihe long march somehow, 
but a few days after reaching Cormons he complained of 
chills, and his body shook even while he sat next to a fire. 
We urged him to see the doctor, a few doors away, whose 
chief occupation these days seemed to be feeding wood to the 
Adjutant's stove. He hesitated. I believe he feared that he 
would be sent to the damp, gloomy hospital at Udine, away 
from all his friends. His condition showed no improvement 
and when his temperature was taken by a Medical Sergeant, 
it was so high that the Sergeant tagged him ''Flu" and sent 
him to the hospital. It was the last time we saw him alive, 
this good pal who had been too plucky to drop out on the march 
when he must have felt that the march was killing him. 

There was much influenza in Cormons, within the regiment 
and among the natives. We were made aware of this latter fact 
by the almost daily procession of priests, acolytes, mourners 
and bearers carrying the corpses which passed our door. In 
the hospital at Udine, five of our lads had died in four days 
and many in the regiment had heavy colds which caused much 
concern. The climate was miserably raw and cold. A novel 
and pleasant way to beat the ''Flu" as practiced by some of 
the boys, was to keep their bodies warm with frequent doses of 
cognac. 

When the regiment was at Vallegio, the subject of grapes 
was mentioned. During the maneuvers in the trenches with the 
Arditi, grapes were stolen from vineyards and the owners of 
these vineyards turned in bills for something like 24,000 lires 
(about $4,000) against the Americans. Our Claim Officer would 
not agree to pay this amount and he succeeded in having it 
lowered about one half. Every man and officer was obliged to 
contribute. Officers were charged five lires, non-commissioned 
officers, four lires and privates three lires. Some of us never 
saw the vineyards; others had no objection to the tax. 



48 IN ITALY WITH THE 

This was but one of the many claims presented. The Italian 
attitude seemed to be that all Americans were millionaries and 
that it was their duty to get all they could from the Americans 
while ''the getting was good." 

On November 18th the Third Battalion packed up and en- 
trained for Fiume to do international police duty. Gone then 
were the glimmering hopes of an early departure, for the rumor 
persisted and seemed to have foundation that the First Bat- 
talion and Headquarters were bound for Trieste. However, 
so I have heard, the Colonel prevailed upon the American Mis- 
sion, at Padua, that our place was in Treviso where our sup- 
plies lay in warehouses. 

Accordingly, early Sunday morning, November 24th, with 
great joy in our hearts, we were ready for the return to Treviso. 
The companies were to walk despite the thousands of Italian 
trucks standing idle. However, the packs were put upon Amer- 
ican trucks so that they were unburdened to that extent. 

Headquarters Detachment was fortunate in being allowed 
to ride upon the trucks which carried the office equipment and 
some officers' bedding rolls. The trip was one to be remembered. 

When we started, the day was pleasantly brisk but not 
cold. Leaving at eight o'clock we traveled without adventure 
until we reached the Livenza River. Here the bridge had been 
blown up and a pontoon had been built in its place. When we 
started across an Italian Lieutenant stopped us, saying that the 
pontoon was not strong enough for our heavy trucks. All argu- 
ment was of no avail. We were in a strange countrj^ and to 
make a detour of several miles, as he suggested, would cause us 
endless trouble. Even while we talked an Italian truck crossed 
the pontoon towing a second truck. We pointed to the two 
trucks crossing at one time, but we received only his maddening 
smile and a refusal. Some of the boys in the party were in 
favor of emulating one of our Sergeants who, during our ad- 
vance, was bringing food to us. As the story goes, this Ser- 
geant's trucks were approaching a pontoon when an Italian 
Colonel ran out with arms wildly waving, while he voiced a loud 
refusal. The Sergeant was a man of few words. He knew 
that the regiment was in need of food and he thought the pon- 
toon was strong enough. Having faith in his judgment and 
cause, he displayed his automatic and, motioning the trucks 
forward, backed the Colonel across the whole pontoon. The 
pontoon creaked and trembled under the heavy trucks but, 
fortunately, no mishap occurred. 

Our errand was not so urgent, so we turned about feeling 
very bitter, as this appeared to be just another instance of that 



332nd INFANTRY 49 



antagonism to which we had been subjected by the Italians 
since the day of the armistice. 

After following the river for five or six miles we came to a 
bridge and ci-ossed. It was now nearly dark and we should 
have been approaching Treviso. With evening, the weather 
grew colder and, as a pleasure party, our trip was a failure. 
We reached the Piave soon after and successfully crossed the. 
creaking pontoon. 

However, we had not gone a hundred yards beyond when^ 
as we were climbing a hill, both trucks stopped. Upon in- 
vestigating we learned that both had run out of gasoline. It 
was a peculiar coincidence. 

On either side of us were damp", clay embankments and all. 
about was darkness. What should we do? We were in a. 
strange country and in a poor part of that, so far as replenish- 
ing our gasoline supply went. We thought we could borrow a 
can from one of the many passing Italian FIATS, but no one 
seemed to have an extra can. Meanwhile, someone, rooting 
around among the packs and boxes on our truck found a three 
gallon can of gasoline, but that would not take us to Treviso 
which we were told was twenty miles away. 

We again resumed our efforts to beg gasoline from the 
Italians, but when some time had passed without our efforts 
being rewarded, the boys in loud voices told the countryside 
what they thought of the Italian nation in general and these 
Italian drivers in particular. About this time we noticed a 
can of gasoline in the rear of a truck which had stopped close 
by. However, when we edged near to lift the gasoline, the 
driver suspected and moved the can. Fresh outbursts of Amer- 
ican oratory hailed this failure but, out of the din rose a voice 
speaking the American language with a slight accent and the 
voice asked: ''Who wants gasoline?" Before the speaker 
could have chajiged his mind, a half dozen answered: ''Here!" 
As he came nearer we saw he had a five gallon can. We thanked 
this Italian who had been to America, loaded him down with 
cigarettes and poured the gasoline into our truck. With eight 
gallons we felt we could make Treviso. Bidding farewell to the 
occupants of the other truck, with a promise of speedy relief, 
we set forth. 

Without a map we stumbled onward in the darkness. We 
had traveled several miles along a dark road when, upon 
reaching the end, we perceived a river but no bridge or pontoon. 
It was a delicate task to turn the large truck in the narrow 
road. Retracing our tracks we set out again, fearful now that 
our gasoline would become exhausted. To add to the discom- 



50 IN ITALY WITH THE 

fort, the snow fell and the night grew very cold. However, 
we were on the right road and at 10:00 P. M. we entered the 
gate at Treviso. 

During this time the companies were walking to Treviso. 
On the first day of this tiresome march they covered twenty- 
seven kilometers. At seven the next morning the march was 
continued, without a rest for the noon meal, and at 5 :00 P. M., 
another thirty-five kilometers were passed. Here the tired, foot- 
sore lads went into billets until 7:00 A. M. of the 27th when 
the march was resumed and thirty-eight more kilometers were 
marched. On November 28th, Thanksgiving Day, they enjoyed 
(?) a dinner of ''slum,'' and reached Dosson, a suburb of 
Treviso at 4 :20 P. M. The distance marched this day was thir- 
ty-two kilometers. 



332nd INFANTRY 51 



CHAPTER VII 
Treviso — ^After the Drive — ^Rome 

ONCE INSIDE THE GATES we were happy despite our 
hunger and cold for both were soon forgotten and, in addi- 
tion, the boys who had remained in Treviso to guard our 
stores and to forward supplies, shared their bunks with us. 

It may be well to say a little more about these lads who 
had remained at our base. When the regiment marched to the 
front, there were about one hundred and fifty of them, but 
as men came from the hospitals and could not join us in 
Austria, this ^* Casual Detachment,^' as it came to be known, 
doubled in numbers and occupied all available space. At the 
time of our unexpected arrival they had a fairly elastic organ- 
ization accustomed to serving meals at all hours. 

Treviso had now taken on a different aspect by day and 
by night. The war being over, many citizens had returned. 
The market place livened up on market days and the boards 
came off the house windows. The stores opened but, at noon, 
according to custom, they closed from twelve to two while the 
shop-keepers retired to their beds. At night, with no fear of 
air raids, shades were not pulled down and the street lights 
were lit, while Italian soldiers singing *'0 Sole Mio," and 
other favorites made the nights cheery. 

Besides Americans, there were British and Italian soldiers 
in Treviso. With the many soldiers and the great number of 
citizens returning home, it was difficult to obtain a building 
for Regimental Headquarters. So, it was not until the fifth 
day after returning to Treviso that we found a home, which 
provided room for four offices and sleeping quarters for the 
Detachment and the Band. 

The line companies of the First Battalion were stationed 
in an Italian barracks. They had little to do other than the 
usual fatigue and a small amount of drilling. Most of the 
afternoon and evening was free but, with the lack of amuse- 
ment, the hours hung heavily. Later the Y. M. C. A. helped 
with a reading room and canteen, and the English, who had 
leased a theatre, entertained us with shows and movies. 

Many walked across country in search of souvenirs, visiting 
prison camps and battle fields in the region of the Piave, and 
before long, barracks bags were filled with shells, copper paper 



52 IN ITALY WITH THE 

knives, Austrian helmets and even rifles and swords. With 
plenty of time, a great fad of decorating shells took hold and 
some beautifully decorated shells resulted. 

Our pleasures and anticipations, however, were tempered 
with sorrow, for during the latter part of November there was 
a funeral nearly every day. My friend died November 27th 
and he and another friend were buried November 29th. The 
bodies, in boxes draped with the American flag, were placed in 
a truck, the band played a funeral march and the sorrowful 
procession started. Besides the Band and truck there were in 
the procession the Chaplain, the firing squad, the pallbearers 
and the friends of the deceased. 

At the Italian cemetery we advanced to a comer where 
there were many new, unpainted crosses on the tops of which 
were nailed the aluminum identification discs worn by every 
soldier. The Chaplain read his prayers over the remains, the 
bodies were lowered, and thus ended the earthly career of 
these brave lads who were never to see their loved ones in this 
life. Two new wooden crosses were added to the others, and 
later, two little numbered stones were placed on the graves. 
The Band formed and as it marched up the street, struck up a 
lively march according to custom. 

Shortly after we were in receipt of a communication from 
Earl Cavan, who had commanded our Army Corps during the 
drive. In his letter he commended the regiment on its conduct 
and awarded the regiment the English Distinguished Service 
Order. 

At this time the good feeling which had existed between 
the Italian and American soldiers threatened to end. Many of 
us thought that the original cause was cigarettes and tobacco. 
In the first place, when the Americans received permission to 
bring cigarettes and tobacco into Italy, the Italian Govern- 
ment insisted that none be sold to Italians. Therefore, when 
the doughboys came from the ''Y^' and the Commissary with 
cigarettes, the Italians, who could buy only twenty of the 
atrocious Macedonian cigarettes a week from their stores, 
wished to purchase American cigarettes. Now the Americans 
could not sell them to the Italians without violating the com- 
mand of the Italian Government. However, finding that they 
could not buy cigarettes, the Italians began to beg them. At 
first the boys were generous, but eventually, an American 
could not step from his billet without finding several Italians 
waiting to say: ^ * Cigaretta ? " It grew tiresome, this ^'Cigar- 
etta"?" and when an American hot-head met an Italian hot- 
head, the inevitable resulted. The feeling thus started spread 



332nd INFANTRY 53 



in other directions. The people of Europe, Italians not ex- 
cepted, seemed to think it legitimate to grossly overcharge 
when the opportunity arose. In some of the Italian stores 
there are signs which read, ''Fixed Prices/' but, like many 
signs, they meant nothing. The way to buy in Italy is to ask 
the price of an article and upon obtaining it, divide it by two, 
three or four and, if you really want the article, haggle and 
walk toward the door several times until the storekeeper comes 
near your price. This was an unusual method for Americans 
and much ill will resulted. 

When the Americans entered Italy an agreement was made 
between the two governments as to amounts and kinds of food 
the Italian government was to furnish the American soldiers. 
After we were in Italy, there were times, of course, when certain 
articles were not available and therefore could not have been 
issued to the Americans. However, as the Supply Company 
men know, there were other times when the Italians refused 
to issue foodstuffs on the ground that they did not have them. 
The American Sergeants refused to believe them and upon 
forcing their way into the Italian Commissary, found the food- 
stuffs there. 

On another occasion the Paying Officer and his assistants 
placed their safe, with money for the troops at Fiume and Cat- 
taro, in an Italian railroad car. American guards were placed 
with the safe. Officious Italians, with no justifiable reason, put 
guard and money off the car. Rather than create trouble, the 
American Captain was man enough to hold his peace for the 
time. The matter was taken up with the Italian authorities and 
the Captain finally succeeded in getting his money to the men. 

On other ocasions, I have been told, it was only the back- 
bone of the American boys in charge of the American mail 
that prevented sneering Italian officials from cutting open and 
going through the mail bags containing not only personel mail, 
but United States Government official mail. 

These matters were generally adjusted but no guarantee 
seemed capable of preventing a recurrence. It seemed to many 
of us from the treatment accorded Americans, that the United 
States of America was a fourth rate power cringing and beg- 
ging for the good will of powerful, majestic Italy. Possibly, 
and I prefer to think it, the government of Italy was doing all 
for us that it could. I believe that our troubles arose from 
officers below the rank of General who were tainted with Bol- 
shevism and saturated with self-importance. It seemed, also, 
that some of the higher American Officers cared more for the 
smile of an Italian official than for their countrymen's welfare. 



54 IN ITALY WITH THE 

In the early part of December it was decided to send about 
forty convalescent soldiers of the Third Battalion, together with 
the mail and baggage, to Fiume. Accordingly, arrangements 
were made for them to leave on a fast train Saturday, December 
14th. However, the time of departure was postponed, by the 
Italians, to the next morning and then, again, put off until the 
afternoon. At 2 P. M. the sick soldiers arrived at the station 
to enter their box cars which stood on a siding. Strange to say, 
when inquiry was made not an Italian official knew anything 
about the disposal of these cars. It was finally decided that 
they would go forward Monday morning. 

At this time the boys boarded the box cars and at noon 
the train left Treviso. After a few miles it was held up for 
two hours and at Cassarsa, the engine put the cars on a siding 
and departed. It was a cold, damp night and the box cars were 
poor shelter for sick men. 

Tuesday morning came but there was no sign of an engine 
and the Station Officials could not say when a train for Fiume 
would arrive. In the afternoon the cars were moved along about 
ten miles and here again the officials knew nothing. 

Hearing that the Rome-Trieste express came through Porto- 
gruaro, the American Lieutenant in charge decided to send all 
but six men on the express. The officials made out the neces- 
sary passes and when the express arrived the men boarded it. 
However, an Italian policeman ordered them off and was sup- 
ported by an Italian Colonel who said enlisted men were not 
allowed to ride on the express. 

The Lieutenant appealed to the Station Master who then 
admitted that the Colonel was right. The American explained 
that the men were sick but he received only insults and refusal 
from the officious Colonel. 

The Station Master promised another train that evening but 
none arrived and on Thursday the Lieutenant, thoroughly angry, 
wired a higher official and at 3 P. M. the cars moved out of 
Portogruaro. 

Again that night the cars were side tracked but the Lieut- 
enant quickly obtained action here and with several more de- 
lays finally reached Fiume at noon, December 21st. 

Instead of a ten or twelve hour ride, five days and five nights 
were required to make the trip. That is a sample of the treat- 
ment which makes the 332nd anxious for another war in Italy. 

After the English had left Treviso the American '' Y^' leased 
the town theatre for vaudeville, band concerts and pictures. 
Our band gave several grand concerts here which were greatly 
enjoyed. Incidentally, the '*Y" made itself popular with the 



332nd INFANTRY 55 



boys by charging them to hear their own band play. The in- 
terior of the theatre consisted of an orchestra and several tiers 
of boxes instead of a gallery and balcony as in our theatres. 

Just before Thanksgiving, nine men dressed in German 
civilian clothes made of paper, came into our midst. They were 
thoroughly questioned and examined and it was established 
beyond doubt that they were American soldiers wounded and 
captured in the Chateau Thierry drive. They had been sent 
across France and Germany into Poland, along with hundreds 
of other prisoners. They did not complain of their treatment 
at the hands of the Germans but said they had not obtained 
proper food nor proper medical attention. They told of opera- 
tions undergone without anaesthetics. At their first opportun- 
ity they had made their escape. 

A few weeks later an American Captain found his way into 
Treviso and his story brought out the fact that he had been 
Commander of some of the nine men mentioned above. He was 
greatly surprised to find American soldiers in Italy. 

The Red Cross assisted us materially. From their great sup- 
plies they gave us blankets, pajamas, socks, sweaters and much 
food. We had been unable to obtain potatoes for several weeks 
but the Red Cross furnished us with them. 

As the censorship was off the mail, many began to send home 
souvenirs and, sometimes, the postoflfice had to refuse Austrian 
helmets, for the office was full of them. 

About the first of December we received a red, white and 
green service stripe from the Italian government which denoted 
four months service on the Italian front. This was immediately 
christened the *' Macaroni Bar." A few days later, December 
8th, we received the American gold '^V" for six months over- 
seas service. 

Christmas, which we had so fondly hoped would see us on 
the way home, at last came. During the day nothing special 
occurred, except that the Christmas boxes from home were dis- 
tributed and this served to impress the thought of home more 
firmly upon the mind. 

However, there were many private celebrations and, at 6 :30 
P. M. about twenty of us filed into the ''Dining Room" and 
prepared to partake of a real Christmas dinner. The splendid 
meal consisted of soup, fish, mashed potatoes, turkey, dressing, 
gravy, sweet corn, bread, butter, pumpkin pie, corn starch pud- 
ding with peaches and cream, coffee, wine, champagne and fruit 
punch. The whole was most excellently prepared by a quartette 
of the best cooks who ever donned a khaki uniform. During 
the evening, speeches, stories and songs obliterated the mean 



56 IN ITALY WITH THE 

walls and took us back home to our dear America. It was a 
most successful dinner and Christmas night. 

Many rumors filled the air these days. Some said we were 
going to Fiume, some said Trieste, while others, more imagin- 
ative, said the Balkans. All seemed agreed, however, that home 
was in the distant future. 

With few exceptions, the life in Treviso was a humdrum 
existence. The rest after the strenuous days before the armis- 
tice, was very welcome, but the long idleness gave the men too 
much time to think of home. Naturally, they became discon- 
tented. This frame of mind was capable of producing mischief, 
so, in the early part of December, passes were given to Venice, 
Milan and other nearby towns. Venice, just nineteen miles 
away, drew most of the visitors. Since railways were owned by 
the government, no fare was paid by the military; a pass from 
the Commanding Officer with the regimental stamp being all 
the authority required. The conductors could not read Eng- 
lish, so the boys unable to obtain authorized passes, made their 
own and these were accepted so long as they bore a signature. 

In December we learned that President Wilson would be in 
Rome, January 3rd, 1919, so on January 1st a detachment con- 
sisting of the Band and an Honor Guard of twenty-five were 
sent to greet him. After a twenty-four hour ride, we reached 
the ''Eternal City" and were shown to an Italian barracks 
and later to the Red Cross quarters which were more satis- 
factory. 

With a consuming desire to see the great city, we were soon 
on our way to St. Peter's and the Vatican and their many won- 
ders which, however, I shall not here attempt to describe. 

In the morning of January 3rd, we prepared to welcome the 
President. Our Band and Guard, we learned with dismaj^, were 
not considered by the Italians to be necessary in the parade of 
welcome. So, this pleasure being denied them, the boys planned 
a welcome of their own and the thin column of Yanks attempted 
to break through the mass of people at Via Nazionale. These 
spectators, a score deep, were held off the street by a solid 
cordon of soldiers, which reached from the station to the Presi- 
dent's palace. The soldiers seeing the Americans endeavor to 
break through the line called for reinforcements, but Italy has 
neglected football and in a few minutes the thin American 
column was over the line, was reformed, and was marching up 
Via Nazionale amid the applause of the Romans and the dis- 
comfiture of the Italian officers. At the station the khaki clad 
column formed its own cordon of welcome. 



332nd INFANTRY 57 



Rome was in holiday attire this morning. Via Nazionale 
the main business street, was ablaze with Italian and American 
flags and with standards of the Italian provinces. Rome had 
not seen such crowds in days. 

Just before 10:00 A. M., the cabinet members, Senators, 
Deputies, General Diaz, Admiral DiRevel, the American Am- 
bassador and other Ambassadors, arrived at the station, fol- 
lowed shortly by the King of Italy. A fanfare of trumpets 
sounded as the train arrived and ' ' The Star Spangled Banner ' ' 
was played. King and President shook hands and the various 
presentations were made. Amid continuous and frenzied ap- 
plause, waving flags and handkerchiefs, the party passed slowly 
down Via Nazionale to the Quirina:l Palace which the Italians 
liad given over to the President. 

The next morning the Band and Guai'd marched to the resi- 
dence of the American Ambassador, Thomas N. Page, where 
President Wilson was giving luncheon to the Italian King. 
The band was to play during the meal and the ''Honor 
Guard," at last was given a chance to honor the President. 

About 12:30 P. M., the shouts of the people who lined the 
streets proclaimed the popularity and appi-oach of the Presi- 
dent. As his party entered the courtyard, the opening strains 
of ''The Star Spangled Banner," greeted him and he smiled 
broadly as he passed. 

Within a few minutes the King and Queen of Italy ar- 
rived, followed by Italian statesmen and high army officers 
among whom was General Diaz, the idol of the Italians. 

The large dining table to which all repaired was beauti- 
fully decorated with huge clusters of red and white flowers. 
At both ends of the hall the American and Italian colors were 
hung, side by side, emblematic of the manner in which Italian 
and American had stood throughout the great war so glori- 
ously ended. 

After the luncheon, when the guests had departed, some- 
one remembered that the Band and Guard had not eaten and 
we were led to the same dining table used by the elite. For 
the benefit of the rest of the regiment who were not present, 
I give the menu: Roast pigeon, steak, cake, ice cream, cham- 
pagne, etc., etc. 

We had expected to remain in Rome for several days but, 
to our astonishment and disappointment, we were ordered the 
next morning to get ready to take the noon train to Treviso. 
We had seen enough of Rome, however, to put firmly in our 
hearts the desire to return. 



58 IN ITALY WITH THE 

CHAPTER VIII 
The Third Battalion at Fiume 

BEFORE RETURNING TO TREVISO, let us peep at the 
Third Battalion at Fiume and the Second Battalion at 
Cattaro. 

When the former hurriedly entrained at Cormons, they were 
taken to Fiume, arriving there November 19th. 

Their duty was to aid in the international policing of this 
difficult territory. Fiume, since the armistice, was jealously 
watched by both Italy and the new Jugo-Slav state. The real 
issue probably was, and is, that the Jugo-Slavs consider this 
port indispensable to their future while the Italians think they 
should have Fiume as a reward for their share in the war. This 
being understood, it will be easier to comprehend what diffi- 
culties the Americans labored under in a work in which they 
had no material interest. 

After the Third Battalion detrained at Fiume, the boys were 
forced to wait an hour before an Italian officer presented him- 
self to conduct them to their billets. The reception of the 
people of the town seemed very diffident and it apjjeared to be 
an Italian town from the number of Italian flags flying. No 
other flag was seen. 

In the evening, at a meeting presided over by the Allied 
Commander, an Italian General, the American Commanding 
Officer was required to furnish two companies of Americans the 
next morning for duty in two adjoining towns, Susac and Trsat. 
The men were to go armed. No trouble was anticipated al- 
though the towns were held by troops of Jugo-Slav nationality 
or persuasion. 

Early on the following morning, ' ' K " and ' ' M ^ ' companies 
marched to an Italian barracks and the Italian General in com- 
mand placed the two companies under two Italian Majors so 
that the American Captains, outranked, had no authority. This 
detestable practice of placing a higher Italian officer over the 
highest ranking American officer present was a favorite play 
of the Italians. 

Not content with this procedure, a platoon was taken from 
each of the two American companies and placed under command 
of Italian Captains. Susac was then entered by two separate 
columns each led by an Italian Captain commanding an Amer- 
ican platoon. Italian armored cars proceeded the infantry. 



332nd INFANTRY 59 



The remainder of the American companies were split up, 
Americans being placed in Italian companies under the com- 
mand of Italian officers. The next move was to place the two 
American Captains with the Italian Major thereby depriving 
them of all direct authority. 

Fortunately, no trouble was encountered. It seemed that 
the Jugo-Slav people believed the American soldiers would be 
true to the principles enunciated by their President. 

The other town, Trsat was likewise occupied, after which the 
Americans were divided into small groups of from ten to twenty 
men, who with the same number of Italians, patrolled the two 
towns. 

The Americans immediately became friendly with the Jugo- 
slavs. This was not pleasing to the Italians but the American 
doughboy bestows his friendship where he pleases. 

These troops occupied this territory for several days. Then, 
all but about one hundred Americans were withdrawn and on 
December 18th, these men were called in, as the Interallied 
Military Police, consisting of English, Italian and American 
soldiers, were placed in charge. 

Fiume is an old city, having been known in Roman times. 
There is, in fact, a Roman triumphant arch built by Claudius 
II. The modern city of 39,000 population sits in a sort 
of amphitheatre between the hills and the shore of the Gulf 
of Quarnera. A large export business contributes largely to 
Fiume 's prosperity as is evident from the wharves, warehouses 
and steamships to be seen here. It is said that 7,500 emigrants 
passed through Fiume in 1902 which makes Fiume the cos- 
mopolitan town it is. 

With such activities at its gate, it is not surprising to see 
the many imposing public buildings such as the Governor's 
palace, the Austrian Emperor's palace and the many large 
schools and churches. In the northwest part of the city there 
are fine public gardens. 

As intimated above, there are two parts of the town. New 
Fiume and Old Fiume. New Fiume is a busy, bustling place 
with wide, clean streets which reminded the boys of American 
cities. Old Fiume, however, which is entered through a huge 
archway, is different. It contains most of the Italian portion 
of the population and its dark, odoriferous, covered alleys have 
a medieval air about them. Gloomy, vaulted passages lead 
from one crooked street to another still more crooked, and a 
walk through these strange byways was delightful in the sur- 
prises met at every step. One saw first a bazaar, then a market 
scene or an old monument and again, a fountain or a dilapi- 



60 IN ITALY WITH THE 

dated old door with a coat of arms. At every turn, as in Italy, 
there is a little, dark odorous wine room, but the crowd inside 
is always loud and happy with dances or dice games. The 
shops in this quarter are open in front. Here is a corn dealer 
beside an old clothes store, while next door is an image maker. 
Nearby is a barber shop with its owner in the doorway sharpen- 
ing his razor. Across the street is a macaroni shop and an 
artificial flower store. 

The fine cafes of Fiume attracted many Americans, for 
aside from their wares, exquisite Hungarian music was offered 
and its appealing strains were as enjoyable here as when trans- 
lated to the American light opera stage. 

It was no surjDrise, therefore, that the American soldiers, 
fresh from the small towns of Italy and the rigorous campaign, 
should fall in love with Fiume, especially since the Jugo-Slavs 
tried to make life so pleasant for them. The girls were very 
popular with the soldiers and before the battalion left Fiume, 
there were several weddings. 

The regimental band was sent for and on several nights 
dances were held which were greatly enjoyed. At first, the 
girls could not understand the American way of dancing, but 
it was not long before they were one-stepping and fox-trotting 
as if they had never danced otherwise. In fact, to hear the 
story from the lips of a Third Battalion soldier, the young 
ladies of Fiume threw their hearts at the Americans' feet. 

The American soldier in Europe was peculiarly slow to take 
offense, but once he was aroused, he was as difficult to handle 
as a disturbed nest of hornets. There were several street fights 
between Americans and Italians and the remarkable fact is 
that no one on either side was killed or even seriously injured. 

Since we have returned to America, we have read of the 
scuffles between French and Italians in Fiume and the result- 
ing casualties. It becomes evident, therefore, that our Colonel 
was justified in complimenting the men of the 332nd on their 
gentlemanly conduct. 

One of the stories concerning these fights is as follows : An 
American was standing on the street talking with a Jugo- 
slav girl who wore the Jugo-Slav colors on her waist. An 
Italian soldier came up and snatched the colors from her and 
threw them to the ground. The American did what any red- 
blooded man would do — he knocked the Italian down. At this, 
several other Italian soldiers came, handcuffed the American, 
placed him under arrest and took him to prison. As soon as 
this became known to the American Commanding Officer, he 
demanded the man's release. The soldier was not only re- 



332nd INFANTRY 61 



leased but the Italian General also insisted on apologizing for 
the Italian soldier's mistake. 

On another occasion, so I heard, the American Lieutenant 
Colonel, who was in command of the Americans in Fiume, saw 
the flags of the Allies flying in the air with the Italian flag 
uppermost. He thereupon informed the Italian Commander that 
no flag was good enough to fly above the ''Stars and Stripes" 
and the Italian must have thought the same, for the Italian flag 
was soon placed at the same level as the other flags. 

With Company dances, a minstrel show and the diversions 
offered by the town itself, time was not heavy. Very little 
drilling was done. 

Just before Christmas, a detail of eight men was sent to 
Trieste where they were to assist an American Colonel in check- 
ing food supplies which the Civilian Relief was sending into 
Austria for the starving population. They were engaged in this 
work for about two months. 

As in Trieste, so in Fiume, the friendship between the 
Doughboys and the *'Gobs" became very strong. Throughout 
their stay at Fiume American naval vessels were in or near the 
harbor of Fiume. 

The English soldiers also became quite friendly with the 
Americans as had been the case in Treviso. 

An interesting trip to Vienna was made by four officers and 
one hundred men who convoyed a trainload of flour to Vienna. 
Of course, American soldiers were a curiosity in the Austrian 
capital but they were well treated, for had they not brought 
the flour which the Austrians so sorely needed? While in 
Vienna, permission was granted them to visit the Emperor's 
palace, a visit which was greatly enjoyed. 

On the return to Fiume, the train was stopped at an Austrian 
winter resort where some of the Americans had their first 
taste of skiing. 

At last, on February 12th, the Battalion rolled up its packs, 
said goodbye in several languages to the weeping population 
of Fiume, boarded its ''side-door pullmans," and set out for 
Genoa. They left heavy hearts behind them for the Jugo-Slavs 
truly loved them, and, when they had gone, I'm sure the 
Jugo-Slavs realized that truer champions of purer ideals never 
wore the uniforms of soldiers. 

The trip by train took the boys through the battle scarred 
fields of northern Italy, ending on February 15th at Genoa, 
where the battalion joined the First Battalion at the Hotel 
Miramare. 



IN ITALY WITH THE 



CHAPTER IX 
The Second Battalion in Montenegro and Dalmatia 

THP: reader will remember that the Second Battal- 
ion suddenly took down its pup-tents, rolled up its packs 
and hastily departed from the regiment at Ipplis on No- 
vember 12th, 1918. The rumor said they were bound for 
Montenegro. 

The first portion of the journey was by trucks to Mestre 
which was reached at 2:00 A. M. November 13th. The boys 
slept in the trucks until morning and, at noon, billets were 
assigned them. 

On the 15th, a platoon of ''G" Company departed for 
Fiume. It is said that when the Italians attempted to enter 
Fiume after the armistice was signed, they saw so many Jugo- 
slav guns pointed their way that the expedition was called off 
until Americans could be found to land first. All felt sure that 
the Slavs would not fire upon Americans. So the ^'G" Com- 
pany platoon led and the Italians followed behind this shield. 
The platoon remained in Fiume until the Third Battalion be- 
gan to come in, when they rejoined their company at Zelenika. 

On November 16th, at 10:30 A. M., the whole battalion 
having reached Mestre, trains were boarded which took the 
troops to Venice. Here, after some hours, the captured 
Austrian Red Cross ship, ''Argentine," received them and at 
2 :00 P. M. November 18th, the vessel moved out of the harbor 
of Venice and proceeded down the Adriatic to Cattaro, Dal- 
matia. 

The ship docked here at noon on the 21st and the Amer- 
icans received a great welcome and band concert from the 
natives, Montenegrins, Slavs, Serbs, Poles and Austrians. 

Dalmatia is a narrow strip of land between the Adriatic 
and the Dinaric Alps. Cattaro is situated between the Mon- 
tenegrin mountains and the Bocche de Cattaro, a beautiful inlet 
of the Adriatic and is the most important harbor on the Dal- 
matian coast. Its population in 1900 was 3,021. 

Dalmatia, like Fiume, was a bone of contention between 
Italy and the Slavs. Besides, after the armistice, a revolution 
threatened in Montenegro. While we were never told why 
Americans were sent to Dalmatia, the reason must lie in the 
above facts. 

Company ''F" debarked at 3:00 P. M. of the 22nd and was 
immediately ordered to Cetinje, Montenegro by the ever-present 



332nd INFANTRY 63 



Italian General. Companies E, G, H and detachments of Head- 
quarters, Machine Gun, Supply, and Medical organizations, 
landed on the 24th. Companies *'E" and ^'G" boarded Amer- 
ican sub-chasers and were taken down the bay about fifteen 
miles to the town of Zelenika, an Austrian submarine base. 
Company ' ' H " and the Detachments remained in Cattaro where 
Battalion Headquarters was established. 

Company "F^' under its captain began the march over the 
mountains to the Montenegrin capital, a few miles away. En 
route, a battalion of Italians joined the Americans. When near 
Cetinje, the march was halted on account of the Italians who had 
been refused admittance to Cetinje a few days before when 
they had promised to leave that vicinity. Now, according to 
the theory of the boys, at least, they were attempting to use the 
Americans as a shield to enter the capital and occupy it. When 
the American Captain saw how matters stood, he made no at- 
tempt to lead his men into the city. After remaining a few 
days outside Cetinje, he decided to return and finally went to 
Teodo, Dalmatia, where his company was billeted. Here the 
company was put to work dismantling Austrian warships. It 
was a wonderful opportunity for enlarging one^s souvenir col- 
lection and, I understand, the opportunity was not overlooked. 

The duties assigned Companies ''E" and '*G" at Zelenika 
were quite different from ''F'^ Company's. When they came 
into Zelenika they found the filthiest spot in Europe and, as 
usual, the characteristic American order to ** Police up,'' was 
given. The barracks had been occupied by Russian prisoners 
several of whom were found in the building — dead. Between 
the barracks, dead horses also were found and all about was 
filth and debris. 

Not content with making the town sanitary, those of a 
mechanical bent made the necessary repairs to the water and 
electric lighting plants and soon both conveniences were at their 
disposal. 

The natives up in the nearby mountains were a playful lot. 
Many evenings, in the exuberance of their feelings, they cele- 
brated by shooting machine guns. No one ever accused them of 
aiming them, but it happened that on several evenings a rain 
of bullets came into the town, so the Americans were send up 
into the mountains to find the happy ones. After much hiking, 
the gun was found and the celebrating ceased. 

Besides these tasks, the warehouses were guarded and the 
peace of the town maintained. The chance for recreation here, 
as well at Teodo and Cattaro, was very meagre. In this re- 
spect Dalmatia offered a great contrast to Fiume. Now and then 



64 IN ITALY WITH TEE 

a game of basketball was played at Cattaro, but on the whole, 
time passed slowly until the mail service was established, which 
helped considerably. • 

Much has been said about the rations received by the boys 
in Dalmatia and the balance of the regiment was inclined to 
brand the Second Battalion a lot of discontents. However, 
too many men of unquestionable character have said that the 
rations were far from normal to allow such an impression to 
remain. In the words of an American Major who investigated 
these alleged conditions: ''This ration (the standard ration 
fixed for American troops serving in the Italian Army, as we 
were) has not been issued to the United States troops.'^ His 
statement follows with a list of articles which were not issued. 
He said: "The meat is of very inferior grade," and "It is 
sometimes diseased." "Canned meat is old, some issues being 
put up in the year 1913." "The issues of macaroni and of 
rice are frequently wormy." 

Several men were marked "Quarters" because of the ragged 
condition of their uniforms and others wore raincoats on sunny 
days to cover their torn breeches. Some of the officers gave men 
their own clothes. It has also been said that when the French 
soldiers came to Cattaro, they would not believe that the ragged 
soldiers were Americans. Many were marked "Quarters" on 
account of their shoes and I have heard that one lad had 
boards tied to the bottom of his shoes to keep his feet off the 
earth. These conditions, especially regarding clothing, were 
alleviated before the boys left Dalmatia. 

The impressions received by the boys were not flattering to 
the country. "It was dirty, ill kept and contaminated," they 
said. "The men were very lazy and the women did all the 
work that was done. The men dressed up and sat in the wine 
or coffee rooms telling stories throughout the day. The women 
were held as slaves and it was a common sight to see them 
descending the mountains with loads of wood upon their backs 
large enough for a mule to carry." 

One day, some of the boys were talking to a bridegroom 
of a month. The asked him how he was getting along with his 
wife. "Oh," he replied quickly, "Me get along fine now; this 
wife supports me better than the first one did." 

On another occasion, a rainy day, a man and a woman were 
walking along the street. The man carried an umbrella over 
his precious self while his worthy spouse trotted along at his 
side, in the rain, carrying a large bundle of wood upon her 
back. 



332nd INFANTRY 65 



Like the Yanks in every other section, the Second Battalion 
was busy collecting souvenirs. One Sunday, three Machine 
Gun men were taking apart a one-pound shell which they 
intended to carry home as a souvenir. Suddenly the shell ex- 
ploded scattering deadly fragments. Two of the boys were 
badly torn while the wounds of the third were not so severe. 
They were rushed to a Serbian Hospital where the American 
doctors performed operations upon them. However, despite 
every care, one died the next day and another expired on the 
day following. The third was removed to a Red Cross hospital 
and eventually recovered. 

This event served to further sadden the already gloomy 
Christmas. 

On January 7th, 1919, Company '^F" was again ordered to 
Cetinje to quell a disturbance between the followers of the 
former king and the adherents of the existing government. 
The trip was full of excitement and some danger although the 
boys were inclined to view it as a comic opera revolution. 

The Americans had a delicate task to perform in attempting 
to stop a revolution without hurting anyone's feelings. While 
they marched over the mountain road, shots were heard up in 
the craggy mountain sides. The Captain was leading his com- 
pany in a captured Austrian automobile and in advancing, the 
car got between the fire of the two rival groups. Later, a flag 
of truce was waved which was immediately greeted with shots, 
but, finally, the truce was effected. 

At a meeting attended by the rival leaders, the revolutionists 
gladly acepted an offer of safe conduct to their homes. They 
were also given employment at Cattaro unloading food supplies 
from American ships. Thus the comic opera revolution came 
to an end and the stalwart natives dressed in their peculiar 
black caps with the red top, huge blue trousers stopping at the 
knees and high boots, gaily waved American flags and cheered 
the doughboys. Many of them had been to America so that 
they spoke some English. The Americans, in fact, were held in 
such esteem, that the natives sent a deputation to the American 
Commanding Officer with the request that he rule over Mon- 
tenegro until a new government was set up. 

Company ''F'^ returned to its station after its romantic 
adventure where it co-operated with the French and Serbian 
troops in policing that territory. 

Sometime before the boys left Montenegro, a small detach- 
ment of Americans were sent to Brindisi, Italy, across the 
Adriatic from Cattaro, and through the assistance of these 
men, supplies came regularly to the Battalion. 



66 I^ ITALY WITH THE 

No more exciting events took place and the boys settled 
down to the dull wait for the glad day when the order would 
come that would release them from Dalmatia. At last, early in 
March, the good word came and on the 5th, the Battalion said 
goodbye to the beautiful but gloomy Dalmatian coast and after 
four days on the sea, joined the first and Third Battalions at 
Genoa. 



332nd INFANTRY 67 



CHAPTER X 
Treviso to Genoa 

UPON RETURNING FROM ROME we found Treviso to be 
the same old, muddy, rainy town. From the splendors of 
Rome to old Treviso was a far cry but, after all, Treviso 
was "home" to us. Everything, so far as going home and the 
daily routine were concerned, was the same as before our de- 
parture. 

The Red Cross nurses at Padua made a few evenings happy 
for doughboys by having dances and luncheons there, and the 
nurses of Base Hospital No. 102 at Vicenza helped to keep 
the officers from losing their grace and conversational faculties. 

In the middle of January we understood that our Divisional 
Commander was coming to inspect us and this appeared to be 
an omen of an early departure. However, we waited in vain. 

Besides these few entertainments and occasional trips to 
nearby cities, the boys had nothing to do but eat chestnuts and 
sample unknown vinos. The band helped with an occasional 
concert and the "Y*' with movies now and then. 

Field Hospital No. 331, which had come with us from France 
was situated a few miles from Treviso in a large hospital build- 
ing. The health of the boys was again very good and the task 
of caring for the sick was not great. 

The most serious cases were sent to Base Hospital No. 102 
located in historic Vicenza. Despite the fact that the nurses 
at this hospital were forced to take walks to keep warm, be- 
cause of the lack of fuel, this hospital in charge of the Army 
Nurse Corps was very popular with the 332nd. 

On the 10th of Ferbuary the Adjutant entered our office, 
looked me straight in the eye and exclaimed: ''You're leaving 
for Genoa tomorrow!" 

Genoa! A sea-port! We in the office, looked at each other 
with shining faces for, Genoa spelled H-O-M-E to us. After 
further conversation with the Adjutant, I learned that six of 
us were going as an Advance Party to assist in billeting our 
troops when they arrived in Genoa. 

We started immediately and reached Milan the next morn- 
ing after a cold, sleepless night in the little compartment and 
learned at the English Transportation Office that a train left 
for Genoa at 12:45 P. M. That gave us about five hours to 
get a wash, a warm meal and left enough time to visit the ven- 
erable cathedral and the lovely Galleria Vittoria. 

Our route lay along the Mediterranean coast. The beauties 
of craggy mountain and blue sea were before us except only. 



68 IN ITALY WITH THE 



now and then, when they were interrupted by the eternal tun- 
nels without which, it seems, one cannot travel ten miles in 
Italy. We felt that we were going to enjoy our stay at Genoa 
which we reached about 6:00 P. M. 

Wondering where we were going to spend the night, we 
were overjoyed to see two Sergeants of the Third Battalion 
advance party who had come to meet us. 

The stately Hotel Miramare came into view as we turned 
the corner from the station. High up on the hillside, this 
massive stone structure stood, a fine looking hotel and a work 
of art. The desire to see its interior helped us climb the steep 
hill and when we stood within its marble reception hall and saw 
its magnificence, we w^ere fearful that a mistake had been made. 
We could not believe that doughboys were to have this palace 
for their billet. 

The rooms were stripped of beds, carpets and furniture but 
there were hundreds of mattresses and sheets. Sheets for the 
332nd! It was astounding. Upstairs we found suites of rooms 
with baths attached. It was too much. We took our blankets 
from our packs and fell into the beds provided by our thought- 
ful friends. 

We spent the next day in obtaining the capacity of the 
hotel. That meant, how many of the single mattresses being 
carried in by the Italian soldiers could be put down side by side 
in a room. 

On the second day in Genoa, February 13th, as I sat upon 
the balcony of the hotel writing a letter, I had to remove my 
blouse because of the hot sun. Looking up from the letter I saw 
the blue Mediterranean stretching away in the distance and, 
nearer, as one looks from the sea to the land behind, Genoa 
rises on the hillsides like an amphitheatre with the harbor 
as the stage. The buildings of the city are of stone and the 
castles and other fortlike structures silhouetted against the 
clear, blue Italian sky make an unforgettable picture. These 
structures are several hundred feet above my position while the 
street is at least 150 feet below. In the hotel garden are 
spreading palms and other tropical trees. 

A few days later all of the First and Third Battalions had 
arrived via train and we were at home in our new quarters. 
The elite Miramare which, it was said, had once entertained the 
Emperor of Germany, now presented a strange appearance. 
Doughboys slept in every corner in which a mattress could be 
placed, in the rooms and the hallways. But even those who 
slept in the hallways were happy, for was this not their last 
Italian billet? 



332nd INFANTRY 



The companies each day took hikes across the city to the 
charming Lido where a small amount of drilling was done. 

In the offices, especially the Personnel, the work was very 
heavy as everyone was anxious to be ready when the word came 
to board the ship. However, all had time to explore Genoa, 
'*The Superb," during these sunny days which were such a 
delightful change from foggy, rainy Treviso. 

We found opera houses, good restaurants and cabarets here. 
It was the opera season and many enjoyed old favorites such 
as ; ''Lucia di Lammermoor" and *'ll Trovatore" as well as 
lesser known ones such as, *'The Masked Ball" and ''The 
Loreley. " The singers were very good. 

Naturally, it was much easier to live in Genoa since it was 
a fair si2;ed city with the diversions of the modern city. Along 
with the good, however, there was all the immorality of a large 
city, to which Genoa was no exception. Besides, on the 2nd 
of February, a party of fifty men were given passes to Rome. 

On February 28th the regiment was presented with a beau- 
tiful large flag of St. George, by the Genoese. The Colonel 
received a gold medal, several officers received silver ones and 
about a hundred men received bronze ones. 

On March 1st, a few of the much looked for insignias or 
shoulder patches arrived. Since the regiment was on detached 
service in Italy, we were permitted to select our own insignia 
and the Lion of St. Mark was chosen because our time had been 
spent chiefly in the old Venetian territory. A gold Lion of 
St. Mark with its paws holding the book on which was inscribed 
in gold, 332, all on a red background, made up this brilliant 
insignia, destined to be the most admired in the entire A. E. F. 

A walk about Genoa reveals many beautiful palaces and 
churches. The galleries of these palaces contain some of the 
finest paintings in the world, such artists as Titian, Van 
Dyke, Murillo, Guido Reni, Rubens and Tintoretto being 
represented. In the Palazzo Bianco are memorials of Colum- 
bus among which are photos of his letters. Here is also the 
violin of the famous Paganini. 

Of the churches, the Byzantine black and white San 
Lorenzo, founded in the 10th century, is most noteworthy. One 
of the side altars is very pretty and among its treasures is a 
small marble casket said to contain the remains of St. John 
the Baptist. Women are allowed in this chapel only one day 
of the year. In the choir are notable seats of inlaid wood, 
one of which, the guide said, had been Paganini 's. 

Genoa having been the birthplace of Columbus, a marble 
statue of the great discoverer was erected in 1862 in the Piazza 



70 IN ITALY WITH THE 

Acquaverde. The remains of the house in which he was born 
about 1451 is still visible and is but five minutes walk from the 
center of the city. 

During the last few days the mail from home had brought 
newspaper clippings describing the alleged terrible conditions 
under which the 332nd was living, especially at Cattaro. A 
Congressman having in his possession letters from members of 
the regiment describing these conditions had charged on the 
floor of the House of Representatives that the boys were forced 
to steal food and were without decent clothes, etc. Close on 
the heels of the arrival of these papers a Colonel from Gen- 
eral Headquarters, France, had reported to our regiment for 
the purpose of investigating these charges. This he proceeded 
to do by examining several hundred men individually. 

On the day that I was enjoying the art of Genoa, the non- 
commissioned officers were called together and addressed by 
the Headquarters Colonel concerning the reports reaching 
America. He deplored the scandal and when he finished the 
boys were thinking the same as he was. Unfortunatel}'^, upon 
completing his talk he left the room. It is too bad that he did 
not remain to hear the Regimental Colonel whose language 
would have edified him. When that officer finished, the boys 
were in a worse mood than when they entered. 

Genoa was mild during March and ball games and boxing 
matches were in order Saturday afternoons at the Lido. 

On the evening of the 2nd, our band and about three hun- 
dred men attended a celebration held at the Opera House for 
the purpose of welcoming home to Genoa several battalions 
of Genoese who had fought bravely in France. 

A few days later several hundred American Military police 
came into Italy from France. Until this time we had had no 
M. P. 's other than our own and no one but a soldier can ap- 
preciate their absence. Their coming, however, relieved our 
men at Rome who joined us on the 6th. 

Every American eye carefully scanned the harbor when 
daylight came each day for we knew our ship would one day 
steam into the harbor. One daj'^, the '^Guissepi Verdi, '^ en- 
tered port. In Treviso we had heard of this ship as being the 
one that would take us home. However, on the sixth of March, 
the Verdi steamed away and the boys settled back to their usual 
routine with heavy hearts. 

On the seventh of March, after several weeks of negotiat- 
ing, we were notified that fifty of the regiment could go to the 
Menton Leave Area for a week. 



332nd INFANTRY 71 



CHAPTER XI 
Genoa — ^Reunited 

AFTER A MOST ENJOYABLE WEEK at wonderful Monte 
Carlo and a safe return to Genoa, we were enthusiastically 
greeted at the "Miramare" with the news that we were leav- 
ing for home in three days on the steamer "Duca D'Aosta" which 
lay in the harbor. The Second Battalion had come in while we 
had been away, so that the regiment was again united. The 
Second was being "investigated" and we sincerely hoped that 
nothing would develop that would detain us. We welcomed 
the investigation but preferred it on the other side of the Atlantic. 

However, our joy suddenly died for, on the 18th, we re- 
ceived a telegram from General Headquarters, France, that 
our departure was indefinitely postponed. All efforts to ob- 
tain a release were fruitless and on the morning of the 19th 
General Mc Andrews, Pershing ^s Chief of Staff and General 
'Conner, Chief of Staff of the Service of Supplies, arrived. 
Their coming meant something serious, we were sure. Some 
felt that G. H. Q. regarded the 332nd as culprits and that we 
were to be sent to the Labor Battalions in France. Then, there 
was the ever present trouble in Fiume and neighboring terri- 
tory and we feared that our regiment had been selected to 
return to that troubled land. 

The suspense while terrible, was short, for at 2:30 P. M. 
all ofl&cers, commissioned and non-commissioned, were called 
out upon the hotel balcony. General McAndrews, I believe, 
complimented the *' non-coms'' on the appearance of our 
quarters and we began to breathe easier. Then he said that 
our scheduled sailing had been a mistake. Officers who had 
been sent to Italy to prepare the Regiment for its sailing 
thought the steamships in Genoa were for the 332nd regiment. 
Therefore, arrangements were made and everyone was prepar- 
ing for the homeward voyage. He was sorry the mistake had 
been made but, we could not depart even on order from Gen- 
eral Pershing, for our fate lay in the hands of the Supreme 
War Council. He said we would have to await our turn. 

Settling down once more to an indefinite stay with the best 
frame of mind possible, the boys eagerly took advantage of the 
Company dances arranged by the American girls in Genoa. 
Some dances were held in the Ducal Palace, once the residence 
of the Doges of Genoa. The music was furnished by an ex- 
cellent orchestra recruited from the band members. 



72 IN ITALY WITH THE 

Since our departure was thus indefinitely postponed, passes 
were issued to men of Italian birth, and to those of Greek birth 
permission was given to visit Greece. Negotiations were soon 
under way to send a party of fifty to Rome and the same num- 
ber to Menton. On the 25th of March fifty men left for each 
place. 

Suddenly, on March 26th, we received word that we were 
released and would sail on March 28th and 29th. The Second 
Battalion, "K" and ''M" companies and detachments of the 
Medical, Supply and Machine Gun companies and Base Hospital 
102 were to leave first on the ''Canopic.'* Regimental Head- 
quarters, the First Battalion, '<!" Company, Field Hospital 
331 and detachments of the Medical, Machine Gun and Supply 
Companies were to go on the *'Duca D'Aosta,'' March 29 th. 
"h'^ Company with detachments were to remain a few days 
to conclude all business and to pick up any men returning 
from leaves. 

At this time we had men scattered all over Europe and tele- 
grams were despatched to them. All except those who went to 
Greece succeeded in returning in time to go on one of the three 
ships. 

The Canopic left Genoa on the 28th of March amid cheers, 
but the departure of the Duca was made the principal event be- 
cause this ship was to carry the Colonel. 

Those companies which were to go on the Duca D'Aosta 
marched through the gayly bedecked streets of Genoa amid 
great applause. Finally arriving at the crowded dock they filed 
aboard and, as each man walked up the gang-plank, his arms 
were filled with boxes containing cigarettes, candy and cookies 
given by the Red Cross, Y. M. C. A. and Knights of Columbus. 

The docks were crowded with Genoese who, faithful to the 
end, had come to say goodbye to their American friends. As the 
ship began to move, all the whistles in the harbor shrieked, 
people waved their hands and kerchiefs and they called after 
the ship, their eyes dim with tears. 

Genoa will always be remembered by the 332nd with love 
and admiration. The Genoese, more than any Italian people, 
strove to show their friendship. The Opera, the presentation of 
medals and fiag and the general manner of treatment were all 
signs of an appreciative community. 



332nd INFANTRY 73 



CHAPTER XII 
From Genoa to Ohio 

THE JOURNEY FROM GENOA to Gibraltar consumed 
about forty hours, since we reached the "Rock" about 10 :00 

V. M. March 31st. A library aboard ship afforded the means 
of recreation to many while, to others, it proved interesting to 
watch the porpoises race and play at the prow of the ship as we 
sped through the water. Then, there were others who refused to 
be amused. 

The ship^s crew, evidently, had been spoiled by carrying 
American soldiers before, for various bribes were necessary 
before the proper amount of food could be obtained, in, at least, 
the second class dining room. With the exception of a few sick 
men, I never heard any of the third class passengers complain- 
ing of too much to eat or of too great a variety. 

Arriving in the spacious harbor of Gibraltar, we did not 
dock but cast anchor until such time as the ship could be coaled. 
A few rods to our left was the famous Rock of Gibraltar. 

There were at least a hundred other vessels at anchor in the 
splendid harbor. One of these was the Canopic which had 
left Genoa the day before us. She had stopped at Marseilles 
but had reached Gibraltar before us and, the next day, when 
we moved into the coal dock we found the Canopic alongside us. 

On the morning of the 3rd, half of those aboard the two 
vessels were sent ashore to walk through Gibraltar. We were 
glad of a chance to get on land and glad of an opportunity to 
see the city, but we were compelled to remain in ranks every 
moment we were off the ship. 

At any rate, we enjoyed the much needed exercise and also 
obtained a glimpse of the unique, cosmopolitan city of Gibraltar. 
It seemed, from the slight acquaintance, to be a very up-to-date 
city. All of the houses are built of stone and one obtains the 
impression of cleanliness. Our shore leave was limited to a 
walk through the main street and the return, when the other 
half of the men made the trip. 

On the day that we were ashore the vessel was being coaled 
by hand. 

On the morning of April 4th at 7:30 we moved out of the 
harbor. On our left we could see the rocky shores of Africa. 
Nothing could be distinguished except the mountains over which 



74 IN ITALY WITH THE 

hung a peculiarly dark, purple haze. On our right lay the 
green hills of Spain and the dark clouds cast a shadow over 
the hills, but where there was a break between two clouds, the 
sun shone through and the little white roofs of the stone houses 
sparkled as if a spotlight played upon them. 

We soon passed the last point of land and were again upon 
the broad Atlantic. The consequent rocking of the ship, which 
we now saw was a very different boat from the stately Aqui- 
tania, disturbed the feelings of many. The weather also was 
colder than we had been experiencing. 

On April 9th we encountered what we thought was quite a 
storm. The waves rushed over the deck rails and those ad- 
venturous spirits who loved to stand in the bow of the ship and 
allow the water to spray upon them, were ordered inside. The 
vessel rolled and pitched and standing in the bow of the boat 
and looking back, it was curious to watch the vessel twist about, 
almost like a stretched letter **S". 

Since passing the Azores on the 7th, each morning the 
seemingly everlasting expanse of water met our eyes. We 
grew veiry tired of the voyage and heartily wished for land to 
appear. We seemed to be making little progress, our speed 
being about fifteen or sixteen miles an hour. 

On the twelfth, the sea again became very rough and dur- 
ing the night a heavy fog descended upon us making necessary 
the weird cry of the fog horn. Upon awakening the next morn- 
ing, we were relieved to see that the fog had lifted. 

All this day we watched eagerly for land and, at last, at 
4:45 P. M. the shore of Long Island was visible. As we drew 
nearer our destination we were in time to witness a sunset 
behind the Jersey hills, more beautiful, to us, than all of 
Italy's boasted sunsets. Later, as we passed up the lane 
marked by buoys, the lights of the Statue of Liberty lighted 
and a mighty cheer rose on the air. 

We cast anchor inside the harbor and slept in the shadow 
of America once again. It was a most happy night. 

In the morning, April 14th, 1919, the quarantine vessel 
visited us, found everything 0. K., and in a few hours we 
were back at old Camp Merritt which we had left some ten 
months before. 

Here we performed a disagreeable duty, namely, going 
through the delousing process. Upon entering the delousing 
building, we placed all of our clothes in wire baskets which 
were then collected and put into a machine. This steam and 



332nd INFANTRY 75 



heat producing machine was guaranteed to effectually put out 
of existence all cooties, etc., which had perchance survived 
the journey across the Atlantic. 

While our clothes were thus being cleansed, we ourselves 
bathed, so that when we were finished with this bath, our 
clothes, dried and also hopelessly wrinkled, awaited us. 

Being now clean and acceptable ( ?) we were permitted to 
move to a respectable section of the camp and proceed to the 
business of getting out of the army as rapidly as possible. 

There were canteens, pack carriers, clothes, and so forth 
to be checked and turned in and work on these matters was 
started immediately. The rifles were to be kept for parades. 
The ofi&ces were like madhouses because of the hurry. 

The ''Canopic" arrived on the night of the 14th and the 
** Dante Alighieri'^ with the last of the regiment, came in on 
the 18th. On this last ship there were four young women 
from Fiume who had married Americans. 

Passes were given freely and practically everyone in the 
regiment enjoyed a visit to New York City. 

On the 21st, the 332nd Infantry formed at Washington 
Square, New York, and marched up Fifth Avenue passing 
thousands of cheering friends and admirers. At the head of 
the regiment, besides its Commanding Officer and his staff, 
rode General Guglielmotti, royal military attache to the 
Italian embassy at Washington, and his staff. Included in the 
parade were old Garibaldi veterans and representatives of New 
York's Italian societies. 

Upon arriving at 102nd Street, the parade passed into Cen- 
tral Park where Mayor Hylan welcomed the men to New York 
and America. Following this the royal consul general of Italy 
in New York, Signor Tritoni, presented a gold medal to the 
regiment. General Guglielmotti then rehearsed the history of 
the deeds of the regiment in Italy and the regiment 's Command- 
ing Officer replied for the regiment. After these cermonies, the 
regiment proceeded to the 69th regiment armory where refresh- 
ments were served. 

A few days later, the news reached us at Camp that the 
Pennsylvania men in the regiment were to be sent to Camp Dix 
to receive their discharges there, so that on April 22nd, we 
bid farewell to approximately one hundred and fifty men from 
New Castle, Pa., most of whom had been in Headquarters 
Company. 

Several officers and the regular army enlisted men parted 
with us here. 



76 IN ITALY WITH THE 332nd INFANTRY 

On the 24th, the regiment marched to Dumont, boarded the 
trains and was soon enroute to dear, old Ohio. However, in- 
stead of going direct to Camp Sherman, we stopped at Cleve- 
land, for a parade. 

The first section reached Cleveland in the morning of the 
25th, followed by the other sections all of which arrived during 
the day. 

Practically all of the nearby towns, such as Youngstown, 
Akron and Canton, had procured special trains for the rela- 
tives and friends of the regiment, so that during the day, those 
loved ones who had been separated for a year, met and em- 
braced one another once more. It was a happy day for many. 

On the 26th, the regiment paraded and again, as in New 
York, upheld its reputation as being one of the best marching 
organizations of the A. E. F. After the parade, the ''Sons of 
Italy ^', once more endeavored to show their appreciation by 
presenting the regiment with a silver cup. 

At Central Armory, the entire regiment was banqueted and 
the boys declared it was the most delicious meal they had since 
they left home. 

During the remainder of the day, everyone was free to visit 
until about 7 :00 P. M., when the first section moved out of Cleve- 
land toward that haven. Camp Sherman, where the coveted 
''Honorable Discharge^' was to be received. 

April 27th at 4 :00 A. M. was a cold and disagreeable day as 
we alighted from our tourist cars at the camp and were led to 
our last army home. 

For several days, we were busy turning in equipment and 
preparing final records. At the termination of these various 
duties, the red discharge chevrons (the finest of them all, we 
thought) were distributed. 

Beginning on May 2nd, the first companies of the regi- 
ment received their discharge papers. On the 3rd several 
more went through this process and by the evening of the 
5th the entire regiment had been discharged, and its members 
had arrived at the enviable rank of " Mister. '* 

No time was lost in boarding the special train for Colum- 
bus, home, loved ones and civilian life. 

Today, a few months later, the old days and adventures 
seem like dreams and while few would care to go through 
the same hardships and experiences again, not one of the 
regiment, I dare say, regrets the days he wore the unconquer- 
able khaki of Uncle Sam and the proud Lion of St. Mark. 

Finis. 



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